National Apprenticeships Week: Celebrating Apprentices Past and Present
11 February 2025People are at the heart of Devonshire Homes, and since we were established in 1992, we have continued to invest in our staff to provide training, development and new opportunities. This includes apprenticeships. To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we are delighted to share three quite different experiences from apprentices at Devonshire Homes.
In 1994, James Cleverly joined Devonshire Homes as a Carpentry Apprentice and 30 years later, James is still working for Devonshire Homes as our Kitchen and Joinery Installation Manager.
Jodie Watson joined Devonshire Homes in 2016 working in our Customer Service department; however, she transferred to our Finance team in February 2024 as an Apprentice Assistant Accountant and is currently studying on a day release basis.
Finally, in September 2024, we welcomed Alfie Coker to our Sales & Marketing team as a Marketing Apprentice. Alfie brought with him previous knowledge of the property sector and an interest in starting a creative career.
We caught up with James, Jodie, and Alfie to hear their thoughts on apprenticeships and how Devonshire Homes has supported their individual journeys.
James Cleverly, Kitchen and Joinery Installation Manager
Hi James, how did you get into an apprenticeship, and how did it kickstart your career?
I always knew that being a carpenter was what I wanted to do so when I left school and was looking at options, I was pointed in the direction of East Devon College and the Devon Training Alliance - this team helped me to find my place with Guy Langworthy (Devonshire Homes Non-Executive Director) as an apprentice.
30 years later, and I am still here – and still learning, every day!
What was the thing that most appealed to you about an apprenticeship?
Being an apprentice, with day release at college, worked out well for me and allowed me to gain on-site experience and produce evidence to gain my NVQ qualifications. We did a range of various projects, from loft conversions and kitchen and bathroom replacements to full renovations and barn conversions.
Working in the college, the day was always split between the classroom and workshops; this was a big help in gaining bench joinery knowledge and learning how to use big workshop machines.
I was also lucky enough to be working under the wing of someone very successful and knowledgeable every day outside of college for three years.
And what advice would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?
For anyone looking to get into a certain job role, an apprenticeship is definitely the right way to go. You cannot beat on-site learning, as nothing is as straightforward as a textbook makes out. Classroom learning is not for everyone, and being an apprentice allowed me to become responsive to when things do not go to plan in the real world. Jump in and get your hands dirty!
Jodie Watson, Apprentice Assistant Accountant
Hi Jodie, how did you decide on an apprenticeship, and how has it helped you learn a new field?
I was always interested in maths at school and had considered a career in accounting, however, I ended up doing a plumbing apprenticeship at 17.
I think my interest in maths stuck with me, so, twenty years later, when I found out that there was an opportunity coming up in our Accounts team, I asked if I could transfer over. I did not have any previous accounting knowledge, so I asked if I could do a qualification alongside my new role. Having done an apprenticeship before, it seemed a sensible route to give me the knowledge to succeed.
What was the thing that most appealed to you about an apprenticeship?
I have always been someone who wants to understand why things need to be done in a certain way rather than just doing them, so it is great when I learn a new topic at college that gives me a greater understanding of the processes that I am working on in the office. Both my days in the office and days at college cross over really well, and I can build upon my college learning when I get to apply it in the office.
And what advice would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?
I would say go for it! It is a great way to broaden your knowledge in your chosen field while getting on-the-job experience, and people often forget that apprenticeships are available to everyone, not just school leavers. I never thought that I would be able to change my career path at my age, but my apprenticeship has allowed me to. It is the best decision I have made, I wish I had done it sooner!
Alfie Coker, Sales and Marketing Apprentice
Hi Alfie, why did you decide on an apprenticeship, and how has it helped you kick-start your career whilst still in your teens?
I completed one year of A-Levels; however, I wanted to get stuck into something where I could measure my impact. I did not feel I was getting the most out of my A-level courses and the idea of gaining experience within a professional environment appealed to me, so I started looking for an apprenticeship about halfway through the academic year. A careers advisor had suggested a marketing apprenticeship to me before I left secondary school, which is where the idea originally came from. The more research I carried out, the more an apprentice role made sense to me.
Having worked for an estate agent previously, I had an interest in property and ideally wanted to continue working within this sector. So, combining this foundational knowledge with my natural creativity, it made sense to go into marketing. Now, with college learning paralleling my practical learning at work, I am quickly gaining knowledge of both marketing generally, and marketing within the new homes sector.
What was the thing that most appealed to you about an apprenticeship?
It made sense to learn from professionals within the sector and get the opportunity to learn hands-on. I also like having a job and my own set of responsibilities which I can be trusted with. In my current role, I benefit from the balance of working in our office and visiting sites too. Of course, there is the added bonus of earning my own wage as I work towards my qualification.
And what advice would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?
Go for it – finding a placement can be difficult, so be proactive, as it is worth it! Apprenticeships are overlooked and often deemed less valuable than other qualifications, but this neglects the strong combination of applied workplace experience and course knowledge. There are plenty of progression opportunities: many employers employ their apprentices once they complete their apprenticeship, or there are university and degree apprenticeships. As awareness for these courses grows, I’m sure there will be a significant increase in the uptake of apprenticeships over the coming years.