Claire Stalker

We spoke to former apprentice Claire Stalker to hear about her career journey to becoming Lead Business Skills Officer at Tees Valley Combined Authority.

What’s your name, where are you from, and where do you work?

My name is Claire, I am from Middlesbrough and work as Lead Business Skills Officer at Tees Valley Combined Authority.

What does your day-to-day role involve?

My role is in the Education, Employment and Skills team and my remit is to lead on the development and implementation of a range projects and programmes relating to pre-employment support and skills.

My role includes project management, budget monitoring, writing reports, designing programmes and working with a range of local, regional and national partners and stakeholders.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love the diversity of my role and the challenges that it brings. The thing I love most about my job is that I am helping develop and manage programmes which ultimately support Tees Valley residents to gain skills and experience and to help move them into work.

Where did you do your apprenticeship?

I started doing a level 2 apprenticeship in Business Administration in Middlesbrough in 2002 straight from leaving school. I supported the Office Manager in all aspects of business administration for the whole organisation. Which included finance, organisation of meetings and events, and governance support.

Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?

When deciding what to do after school I was really at a loss, I had no idea what I wanted to do. College just didn’t appeal to me, and I wanted to get straight into the world of work and start earning some money, but I still wanted to learn, gain skills and qualifications too. An apprenticeship seemed like the perfect option for me.

How did this lead you to your current role?

Through my apprenticeship I was given the opportunity to work in various teams throughout the business, including Employment and Skills. I loved the work involved in the Employment and Skills team and the idea that in some way I was supporting people and the area which I grew up in.

Employment and Skills was an area that I had never even heard of, never mind considered whilst at school. If it wasn’t for the apprenticeship route, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work within different teams within the business and really understand what I wanted to do or what I was good at.

Did you always know what you wanted to do before starting your apprenticeship?

Growing up I never had any idea what I wanted to do as a job. I actually found it really daunting when leaving school to have to make really important decisions that I felt would influence the rest of my life with no idea what I actually wanted to do! I never imagined my career would have led me to doing what I am now.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?

There have been many highlights of my career so far, but I would say that working on various programmes and projects that have made a positive impact on other’s and supported hundreds into work and training is the key one for me.

What would you say to someone thinking about starting an apprenticeship?

Go for it, everyone’s journey is different don’t feel like you have to follow a certain path. You will learn so many valuable skills, including soft skills, gain great work experience, qualifications and get paid whilst doing it!

Is there one myth you’d like to bust about apprenticeships?

When I left school, I felt there was a bit of a stigma around apprenticeships and that it was perceived to be an easier route than the traditional college/university route, which is not the case. I did well at school but didn’t want to follow that route.

From my apprenticeship I progressed to a foundation degree and then gained a degree in Business Management which the business I was working at funded. Apprenticeships can be for everyone and it’s important to follow what you think is the right path for you, I’m glad I did!

Feeling inspired by Claire’s story? Click here to find out more about apprenticeships.