Meet the apprentice: Eva on her role as Apprentice HR Administrator

Eva started her modern apprenticeship at Robertson in August 2023. Six months on, she reflects on her experience so far.

Eva, why an apprenticeship?

I went straight into employment after school so I liked the fact that I could continue to work but also gain a qualification at the end of my programme. I enjoyed English and Business Studies at school so the Apprentice HR Administrator role really appealed to me.

Tell us how your apprenticeship programme works 

I’m spending time with each of the HR teams to learn about their specialist area. Ultimately, this will help me decide where I want to focus my own career development. And in an administrative capacity? It’s been varied which is great. For instance, I’ve had experience of communicating with candidates and dealing with administration for references, probationary periods, new recruits and leavers. All these things give me real insight into the various HR processes.

What qualification are you studying towards?

I'm halfway through a Digital Applications Support course which is geared towards people in digital administration roles. It's a mix of online and in-person learning which really suits me.

What key skills are needed for the role? 

I’d say attention to detail, great communication and time management are top skills. We work with a lot of data and to various deadlines, so accuracy is key, and of course we liaise with candidates and hiring managers. I especially like talking to people in the business, it’s a great way to build my internal network.

What are you enjoying most about the role? 

Most definitely the people. Everyone gets on and is so supportive. We’re a team.

What’s been your favourite project or activity so far?

I’ve recently been working with the team that is helping to organise the CONNECT24 Catalysts Conference at Glasgow’s SEC, an event for employees aged 16 to 28 years. From arranging people profiles to branded T-shirts I’ve been hands-on with tasks I didn’t expect to be involved in. It’s been a lot of fun and I can't wait to attend. 

I also attend a NextGen forum which meets every two weeks. It gives young people like me a chance to share ideas and have a voice in the business. It’s a great way to get involved.

With the exposure you’ve had to HR functions, any initial thoughts on the direction you'd like to take your career? 

I’m really enjoying the Employee Relations side. The work is varied and interesting, and I can see there's a lot of opportunities for career growth.

Finally, how would you sum up the culture at Robertson?

Again, it's the sense of team. I feel really supported and listened to – and that's the main thing.

More on apprenticeships at Robertson.