Selina talks about being an apprentice, winning Learner of the Year and continuing to develop a career in HR!
Having just completed the Adult Learning Awards for 2020 it was interesting to see a previous awards winner, Selina Gilbert, reflecting on her journey since becoming an apprentice. Selina recently posted this commentary on LinkedIn.
“1st December 2010, the day I started my 1-year Business and Administration Level 3 Apprenticeship at Wandsworth Council. Now, 1st December 2020, I am celebrating 10 years and it sure has been one heck of a journey!
I started my apprenticeship later than others, so I was already behind. However, I was determined to succeed so I worked hard to catch up and successfully completed my apprenticeship gaining a distinction!
Then in July 2011, I was invited to an evening at the Wandsworth Civic Suite to celebrate the achievements of individuals throughout the Council at the Adult and Community Learning Awards Ceremony, little did I know, I went on to win the Overall Learner of the Year award! As a result of this achievement I appeared on the front cover of the Lifelong Learning News booklet and in February 2012 a news article in the local Wandsworth Guardian Newspaper. I was truly overwhelmed with the recognition I received and so proud of myself for all I had achieved.
Since then I have gained a wide range of experience, knowledge and skills, worked in a number of different team and roles, trained new members of staff and met so many lovely people along the way. Most of all, I have seen a lot of change, the biggest being in October 2016 the Shared Staffing Arrangement between, what is now, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils.
However, it doesn’t stop there, in December 2018 I successfully gained my Level 3 CIPD qualification and even with a few setbacks I have encountered along my HR journey, I’m still determined to be the best I can be and to continue building my career within the HR world. I am looking to start the Level 5 CIPD qualification in the new year, this being just one of the ways I hope to do so!
Lastly, I would like to say thank you to Lifelong Learning for the support I was given and also that if it was not for the three lovely ladies who interviewed me for the apprenticeship back in 2010, I would never have been on this amazing journey I call my rollercoaster career. I will forever be in their debt”.
