Achieving a distinction in customer service apprenticeships

Changing direction has paid dividends for Aspire Housing apprentice Rachel Holdcroft, who after starting her career in teaching recently achieved distinctions all round in her Level 2 Customer Service apprenticeship.

Rachel, 20, started at Aspire Housing in July 2018, after applying for an apprenticeship vacancy on the Achieve Training website. Having studied at Staffordshire University for a year she felt that the route wasn't for her and an early career in teaching didn't match her learning style. Rachel said: "I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do and I decided to try getting straight into a job. That's when I looked at apprenticeships".

“It was my mum that originally recommended Achieve Training to me, I just felt it was really hard to decide what I wanted to do so I decided to see what apprenticeships were available. 

Since being successful in gaining a position as an Asset Management and Development Apprentice, Rachel hasn't looked back.

She said: "I do really enjoy what I do at Aspire Housing, it’s very business related but I feel there is real room for progression here. My day-to-day role involves writing appointment letters, general admin duties, covering peoples phones and using appraisal software. The team I have are really supportive and want me to progress here which I’m really grateful for, Aspire is a really good company to work for and I truly feel a valued member of the team."

Having achieved distinctions in her Level 2 Customer Service apprenticeship Rachel looked back on the value of trying out job roles and the benefits of apprenticeships. 

She said:"It’s so difficult to decide what to do at a young age, I’m so glad I chose an apprenticeship – I wish I had done it sooner! I would recommend Achieve Training to anyone who is unsure of what career route to take, sometimes you need to try out a certain job role to see if it’s for you. You don’t get the chance to do that at College or University.”