Name, Age and Job Role
Chelsea Parker, 23, Apprentice at Silentnight Beds currently working in the New Product Development Team.
Which type of Apprenticeship are you doing or have you completed? Please include if it is intermediate, advanced or higher.
I am currently studying a higher apprenticeship at Burnley Uclan.
Who do you work for and what do they do?
I work for Silentnight Beds and they are one of the biggest bed manufacturers in the UK.
Why did you choose to become an apprentice?
I chose the apprenticeship route because I was ready to earn my own income, but I didn’t want to get stuck in a full time job where my opportunities were limited. The apprenticeship route gave me the chance to learn and earn.
It’s the best thing I have done as I am now working towards my higher level apprenticeship and I have also gained a better job from doing so.
What does your day in your work life involve?
In my job, I look at bringing in new products researching current trends and upcoming trends. My job also involves looking at our current products and coming up with ways of improving them if improvements are needed.
What do you enjoy and what is the best thing about being an apprentice?
I enjoy learning. I like to push myself to learn new things to give me a wider knowledge. The best part of being an apprentice is the fact that I am always learning new things and the more I learn the more I can get involved in and give my input.
What are your career plans and what would you like to be doing in 5 years’ time?
I am wanting to push myself as high as I can go up the ladder within my work place. In 5 years’ time I would like to be more independent in my role and hopefully be able to design beds and mattresses to help Silentnight grow as a company.
What is your greatest achievement? (This does not have to be related to apprenticeships)
My greatest achievement is being one of 200 people in the world to win a City and Guilds Medal of Excellence. It was over whelming to know that the time and effort I put into my apprenticeship was noticed.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone thinking about becoming an apprentice?
I would make sure they understood what an apprenticeship was all about and that it involves going to college to study. I would also tell them how rewarding