Laura Protheroe, Members’ Support Officer

Laura Protheroe, Members’ Support Officer, completed the Team Leader Supervisor Level 3 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) apprenticeship between May 2019 and December 2020. It involved working towards two qualifications – the CMI Level 3 Diploma in Principles of Management and Leadership and Leader Supervisor Level 3 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) apprenticeship.

Laura attended classes on various management subjects, for example project management, managing budgets and resources, leadership, management and managing data, and found she could relate her experience to the subject matter and take part in interesting discussions. This helped prepare her for the assignments. The next phase involved undertaking a workplace project and building up her portfolio of evidence from on-the-job experience.

The apprenticeship was assessed through the portfolio of evidence, a knowledge test, a competency-based interview, and an additional interview based on continuous professional development. During preparation Laura made use of the option of doing a mock online test to get an indication of progress and any knowledge gaps, as well as a mock interview.

Laura was allowed up to a fifth of her contracted working hours to spend on the apprenticeship, including any training and development as part of her job, and completed and submitted a learning log.

Laura shared her experience

I received my diploma in August 2020 with a certificate stating I had become an Associate Member of the professional body Chartered Management Institute. I am pleased to say that in early January this year, I found out I had passed the apprenticeship with Distinction, so all my hard work paid off.

My tips would be to complete assignments regularly and build in time to work on it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you are not sure about. Tutors and assessors are happy to help.

I am very grateful to have had this opportunity and want to thank Bristol City Council for enabling me to participate in this development. I am looking forward to putting what I have learnt to good use and develop my career at the council. If you are thinking about your own professional development, I strongly recommend that you consider an apprenticeship.”