Life as a GCS Apprentice

26 Apr 2021 12:47 PM

Blog posted by: Jatin Nayi, Ministry of Justice, Digital Apprentice, 22 April 2021.

I left secondary school uncertain about my future feeling that university wasn’t the best fit for me. Apprenticeships stood out to me because I’ve always taken a more practical approach to learning.

Six months ago, I was offered a Level 4 PR and Communications apprenticeship at the Government Communication Service (GCS). The scheme really helped me to explore my passion for creative writing and digital content.

Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking and challenging even under the best of situations, and trying to do it all remotely just adds to it! I had no prior experience in government communications, but with the help of my line manager and the rest of the team, I was able to comfortably settle into my new role.

My first week consisted of virtual introductions with colleagues who were extremely supportive and welcoming. The language and acronyms used were very daunting at first, but I was able to pick this up very quickly with the support of my fantastic team.

What I have been working on

What I love is that each day is never the same. It’s more than just managing an inbox and attending meetings. Some days I take part in creative brainstorming sessions and other days I scour the web looking for inspirations for social media content.

Whilst working in the Ministry of Justice, one of my biggest achievements was creating a Twitter video to thank all staff within the justice system for their hard work throughout the year. This montage helped me to network with people in a variety of policy fields and to get my name out there while still learning about the incredible work that is being done.

I’m currently working on a project to promote local prison initiatives to highlight the many creative ways in which our prisons have adapted their services over the pandemic, such as helping parents to make bedtime stories via CDs and DVDs for their children. This is a great opportunity to showcase the innovative ways our staff are helping prisoners maintain family ties and supporting their wellbeing.

Opportunities

The GCS Academy, with its free courses and learning resources, is a very useful platform to boost your communication skills and knowledge.

I had an opportunity to participate in the GCSI Introduction to Communications course which taught me the fundamentals of working in the communications industry. This course explored a wide range of communication topics, with new modules published weekly, enabling me to practice and learn at my own speed.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has ongoing learning and development opportunities for all employees. A particular favourite of mine was an event hosted by a coach who has trained politicians, parliamentary select committees and large company directors on composing well-written content. This experience was very educational and demonstrated the many ways to communicate effectively.

Thanks to my apprenticeship, I’m able to participate in many interesting projects, work towards a level 4 qualification and earn a salary – nothing better than earning while learning! I’m excited about the many more opportunities that MoJ has instore for me during my time here.

Find out more about the 2021 GCS Apprenticeship programme.

To get more information about the GCS apprenticeship scheme, join our session on Thursday 6 May at 5:30 pm. Register via Eventbrite.