NCFE CEO and apprentice job swap for National Apprenticeship Week

For this year’s #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, @NCFE’s CEO, David Gallagher, has committed to a one-week job swap- and-share experience with company apprentice John-Joe Tams.

NCFE, an education charity and leader in vocational qualifications (including apprenticeships), came up with the innovative role reversal to coincide with the 15^th annual National Apprenticeship Week – a week-long celebration of apprenticeships that draws to a close on Friday.

Throughout the course of the week, the Chief Exec of NCFE and John-Joe Tams, an accreditation apprentice, have been providing each other with a unique insight into their respective day-to-day duties.

The week started at NCFE’s head office, where the job-swappers had a chance to meet and discuss the reality behind their roles and career journeys. The NCFE leader went back to basics, getting a feel for John Joe’s duties such as answering customer service calls, dealing with queries and taking minutes in team meetings.

Meanwhile John-Joe has been sitting in the big seat – with the close support of Gallagher and his top team. The young apprentice has been rubbing shoulders with NCFE’s executive team and will co-chair a meeting on the Future of Work with one of the organisation’s Operation’s Director’s before the week is out.

David Gallagher, NCFE’s CEO said:

“I have been really looking forward to this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, it’s been great to get to know our fantastic apprentices and the important work they do. It’s felt like a reverse mentoring experience and I think I actually learnt more from John-Joe than the other way round!

“Personally, I didn’t go to university – straight out of college I worked for BT in a contact centre, and the on-the-job training I received there was very much like an apprenticeship and was invaluable to my future progression. I firmly believe that apprenticeships are key to overcoming the current skills crisis. At NCFE, we’re proud to develop apprenticeships in areas where there is a growing workforce need and exciting opportunities for career progression.

“National Apprenticeship week is an excellent way to shine a spotlight on the vital role apprentices play in so many of our business and the impact they have on our economy.”

John-Joe Tams, said:

“This week has been a great experience! I feel as though I’ve learned so much and I’ve already grown in confidence. I’m also getting a really interesting insight into what a CEO actually does. 

“I think we’ve both learned quite a lot from each other. I’ve been really surprised at just how laid back and friendly David is and how much time he’s had to answer any questions I have. This is shaping up to be a really fantastic week and makes me even more grateful to work for a company like NCFE.”

NCFE has packed National Apprenticeship Week with a vast range of activities such as an ‘Ask the Apprentice’ session, to hear from both apprentices and employers, as well as delivering a number of webinars and virtual events throughout. As the week reaches its climax, David and John-Joe will be heading to apprenticeship giant, Learning Curve Group in County Durham to talk to other apprentices from the Health industry. They’ll then round off the week by taking part in a virtual celebration with NCFE’s apprentices from across the whole business with CEO, David.