Elle signed up to study Geology, Geography and Environmental Science at sixth form college after her ambition of joining the Navy fell through when she was rejected on medical grounds. However, when she then found herself struggling at college and started to look for other options, a chance encounter sent her in a new direction.
“I wasn’t doing well at college either educationally or mentally,” said Elle, 18, from Birmingham, “Then a family member who works at Cygnet Health Care mentioned their apprenticeships scheme and I applied for a Business Admin Level 2 course.”
When Elle was accepted onto the scheme in July 2020, she became Cygnet’s youngest ever apprentice at the age of 16. A leading provider of mental health services in the UK, Cygnet offers opportunities ranging from nursing, healthcare, management, HR, IT and finance to help people grow their skills and embrace new challenges.
Elle said: “I was offered a role in the Information and Governance department, in Cygnet’s Coventry office, and the idea was that I would do four months in 3 different sections – data protection, data quality and information security. I enjoyed the first two but when I started on information security, I really fell in love with it. I was really intrigued and wanted to learn more.”
Elle now works as an Information Security Apprentice as part of a digital service team at Cygnet, led by manager Keith Rickards. The role involves checking and auditing software and hardware being used across the company, such as new audio software for people with vision impairment. Next month, she will continue her training on a Network and Security apprenticeship or Cyber Security apprenticeship, which she will be able to do at Cygnet.
“I had never thought about a job in security,” added Elle, “I did IT at school but it wasn’t very good so I never took it seriously as a career. Since I’ve been working at Cygnet, I haven’t looked back.”
Elle says she would recommend apprenticeships. “It’s an amazing opportunity. Getting paid is obviously very appealing to a 16 year old, but I’m learning the same stuff as in college and getting real life experience in an actual work environment.”
“The managers at Cygnet have been very helpful, and I’m part of a really supportive team. I’m getting the opportunity to work with people who are really experienced at what they do and even attending meetings where I see things at a high level. You don’t get that kind of experience from a text book.”
Suzanne Smith, Apprenticeship Manager at Cygnet, said: “Elle is a perfect example of how much Apprenticeships benefit both the Apprentice and the business and she has shown that even at a young age, she has found her niche and will be going onwards and upwards in her career with us. She is a shining example that shows that she has been able to think outside of the usual career opportunities and taken strides into an area she had not formerly considered within Healthcare.”
Cygnet Health Care works from over 140 sites in the UK and employs in-house experts, bespoke e-learning platforms and external trainers to help apprentices start their career and step up to the next level. More information can be found at https://careers.cygnethealth.co.uk/learning-at-cygnet/.