Chris

The training opportunities and opportunities to develop yourself further - and the fact that I get to do a job that I love.

Everyone is so personable and you get to know everyone, even the Chief Executive. Everyone chips in to get the work done.

I love the variety of work that my role offers and the fact that as we are a smaller council you get to know a lot of people from different departments as well as the customers who even stop me on the street. The on-the-job training is amazing and varied and I have even attended conferences and training events out of county including events in Beeston and London.

I joined the council on the newly launched Public Service apprenticeship scheme in November 2018 as an Operational Delivery Apprentice and I'm working towards a level 3 certificate in Operation Delivery over the course of 12 – 18 months. Previously I worked at a bank in Leicester city in their complaints call centre. At the age of 33 and having done that role for 8 years, I was ready for a change of career. Having an Undergraduate degree from the University of Leicester in Archeology and a Post Graduate degree in Museum Creatorship, this job caught my eye as a foot in the door to ensure my skills were relevant and up to date.

As an Operational Delivery Apprentice I get to work across the Library, Museum and Castle, and support Stocken Prison Library. The role is really varied and very customer service focused as the library is host to many things for the community including tourist information, educational and theatre events. We even become a Polling station for elections! We also have strong links with the Youth Centre at Jules. We typically serve over 7000 people a month at Oakham Library and when there are big event days we can have over 600 people in.

You need excellent communications skills and diplomacy along with being very driven and motivated. You have to be very friendly and willing to meet lots of different people. I would say to anyone interested in working here to take up every opportunity offered to you.