Paul Courtney – Apprentice profile

We’re in conversation with Paul Courtney, an HR advisor, working as part of the central team at Q3. Paul is currently studying for the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management.

What have you learnt so far from this apprenticeship?
From completing the apprenticeship, I have found that my confidence and the understanding of employment law has grown, which has enabled me to speak to my HR Director more proactively in bringing any concerns to their attention with problem solutions to make changes and improve our services to the business. The apprenticeship has been balanced well with the delivery and what I am completing at work. Within our sector, we will often mobilise or demobilise teams through TUPE. This meant that I was able to combine knowledge from college, with practical experience through working with my Director in a practical manner.

What have you enjoyed about this apprenticeship?
I have really enjoyed embedding the new knowledge of this apprenticeship into my workplace. I struggled initially and I would find myself second guessing my guidance and support to both managers and employees on a range of HR subjects. However, the apprenticeship has taught me to step back and reflect more often. Another benefit of this apprenticeship for me, is it has supported me to build my own network of People Professionals from other sectors to gain insight and of course to ask those silly questions!

What do you hope the apprenticeship will do for you?
I came from the education sector (post 16), where I would be working with teams from a range of sectors who were supporting their own learners through an apprenticeship. So, for me, it felt strange to be on my own apprenticeship journey. I hoped that by completing my own apprenticeship, it would give me wider knowledge base and understanding on the employment differences between the education sector and my new sector of Facilities Management. As the business continues to grow, I would like to think I would be capable to step up into a HR Manager role.

Thanks Paul.