We’re excited to kick off National Apprenticeship Week with an interview featuring our recently crowned Apprentice of the Year (AOTY), Emma Fletcher.
Last week, at our annual AOTY celebration, we recognised twelve outstanding apprentices from across the business. Emma emerged as the overall winner, showcasing remarkable resilience, dedication, and immense personal growth throughout her apprenticeship. In the excitement of the moment, fresh off being named AOTY, we caught up with Emma to learn more about her spectacular achievement.
In the lively post-ceremony atmosphere, we sat down with Emma to see how she was feeling. “Shocked, overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting to win. So, it did come as a shock,” she said. When Emma heard her name announced as the 2024 AOTY, it took a few seconds for her to reach the front of the room, still revelling in the surprise. Her speech, which moved some to tears, shared the moment with her fellow finalists.
Emma began her Team Leader/Supervisor Level 3 apprenticeship in November 2022 to grow both personally and professionally. “I just wanted to develop myself. I want to grow a career in OCS, so I started this apprenticeship.” However, the sudden loss of her grandfather at the start of her apprenticeship almost deterred her. “I was debating whether to stop and not do it. But something at the back of my mind said, ‘No, Granddad knew you were doing this and wouldn’t want you to stop.’ So, it pushed me.”
The loss of a close family member was not the only hurdle she faced. At 41, she discovered she had dyslexia, which made the already challenging mathematics pathway necessary to pass the course even more difficult. “I had tears, I had tantrums. But a lot of finalists were the same. So, even though you feel alone at that point, you’re actually not.” She shared that it had been pizza-forward maths lessons – the tough equations and questions, greased by slices of ham and pineapple pizza – that helped in part to keep her motivated and on track.
Emma pictured with Daniel Dickson, OCS UK&I CEO and Toni-Marie Vaughn, Head of Learning and Development, as they present her with her award.
In addition to winning Apprentice of the Month for January 2024 and the overall AOTY title for 2024, Emma was also recognised by her training providers, winning their equivalent apprentice of the year title in 2023. Emma’s dedication and growth are evident to all around her. Her line manager, Russ Anderson, has been a fierce and friendly advocate for her potential. “Russ pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me look at things differently. And again, that’s self-growth. As a result, I believe in myself more now.” Speaking more on her personal growth and development, Emma is proud to now be in a position where she can advocate for others who may feel as she once did – uncertain and hesitant. “I feel like I could go to people who might want to do an apprenticeship or who might just be feeling down, not believing in themselves. I can say, you know what, I’ve been there, and this is what I did, and this is where I am now. And I think it’s important to pass it down because it’s the people around you who help you grow. It’s because of them I am here today.”
Speaking to her line manager himself, Russ Anderson reflects on Emma’s journey:
“I think the biggest thing for her was self-belief. She had the ability, but she didn’t believe in herself. She talked about the trials and tribulations with her maths and English – her biggest obstacles. Once she got past her maths and gained that self-belief, everything else fell into place. It probably wasn’t easy for her, but she had that inner belief that she could achieve, and it was great to see. I’m incredibly proud of her win today.”
Russ Anderson
Contract Manager and Emma’s line manager
When asked to reflect on her apprenticeship and pick out a memorable moment, one easily springs to mind for Emma – the moment she found out she passed her maths. “When I passed maths, my line manager was on his way to an awards ceremony. As soon as I was told, everybody would normally ring their partner or family member. I rang Russ and said, ‘Guess what? I passed my maths.’ Screaming down the phone. He was screaming down the phone. I was crying. That was probably one of the best highlights, knowing that a 41-year-old can pass maths after so long. It’s been a great challenge. Absolutely. I’m so grateful.”
Emma’s journey highlights the many ways apprenticeships can change a person’s life. Her story also underscores the importance of the tripartite relationship between apprentice, line manager, and skills coach, which our Apprenticeship team knows is key to the success of an apprenticeship. We once again congratulate Emma and the finalists on their wonderful achievements and continue on our path to build and strengthen the learning and development opportunities available to our colleagues across the business.
