Matthew Donnelly has been working as a Finance Officer apprentice at HCA since 2012. He has successfully completed the AAT level 2 qualification and is progressing towards level 3. His supervisor provides positive feedback and says Matthew is diligent, asks good questions, and has helped improve some processes. Matthew feels the apprenticeship has been the perfect way to gain experience in the public sector while attaining finance qualifications. Apprenticeship schemes provide numerous benefits to organizations by helping young people gain skills, preparing them for careers, improving staff morale, and bringing new ideas at an affordable cost. HCA plans to recruit more apprentices in the coming year.

1. HCA apprentices – Matthew Donnelly
Apprenticeship Week 2015

2. So far…
2012: First 2 HCA apprentices - with our IT team in
Gateshead
The scheme has now been rolled out to
other parts of the Agency
We’ve provided Cabinet Office with details of
our experiences & given them ideas on their
apprenticeship scheme

3. Matthew Donnelly
Working as Finance Officer;
successfully completed AAT level 2; progressing
level 3
“Matthew is progressing extremely well,
I have received positive feedback from
everyone he has worked with.
He is diligent in his approach, asks questions
where appropriate to clarify his understanding,
and picks up work very well.
While in management accounts (6 months) he
has helped to introduce some process
improvements, along with some of the
more routine tasks, and gaining a good
understandingof the business.
“The apprenticeship
scheme at HCA, for me,
has been the perfect
way to gain essential
experience of the
public sector as well as
attaining
qualifications
in finance.”
He is doing very well in
his studies, and if Matthew
is the benchmark for
apprentices, then I would be
more than happy to
recommend this route
elsewhere.”
Pamela Smith

4. Apprentice schemes have
numerous benefits!
We’re helping young people
struggling to find work gain
essential skills & prepare
them for their future careers
Everyone wants to help
apprentices settle in
& progress
Working with
apprentices can
improve staff
morale for
existing staff;
helping young
people to develop
can be incredibly
motivating
It provides
opportunities for
personal
development, eg
through mentoring
apprentices

5. We’ve found apprentices are eager, motivated, flexible
and loyal to the HCA as the organisation which has invested in
them. An apprentice is with HCA because they want to be – they
have made an active choice to learn on the job and a
commitment to a specific career
They are good ambassadors for the HCA!
We benefit from the creativity & new ideas apprentices
bring, an increase in productivity at affordable cost; and
taking on apprentices can improve our reputation with
stakeholders, partners & public

6. We’ll be recruiting more
apprentices across the
Agency in the coming year,
so watch this space.
Let’s hear it for
apprentices!

7. More info?
GOV.UK
@HCA_UK
@Apprenticeships
#NAW2015