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PR Apprentice Fact File - Cameron Kay

Name: Cameron Kay

Age: 20

Organisation Description: Police Force

Date Started the PR Apprenticeship: 14/12/16 

Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?

I was lucky in the sense that I had my brother to look to for advice, he studied law at university but then went on to work in car rentals for a year after getting his degree. He struggled to find a job because whilst he had the qualification, he didn’t have any experience or references that often give people the edge when applying for jobs.

It’s because of that I started to look into apprenticeships, being able to study and gain experience in a working environment is the best route to take in my opinion.

The qualification I’m getting is a Level 4 Diploma in public relations which is the equivalent of the one you get after your first year at university.

At university you will go in for a lecture once or twice a week and then not think about it again until you have another one or an assignment. However, with an apprenticeship you’re spending five days a week for 15 months getting involved and learning.

In the long term, I think that what I don’t have in qualifications will be hugely outweighed by what I do have in experience.

University was a popular option for people in my year and they will struggle to stand out in their crowd, but experience will always be favoured in my opinion. Employers would rather go for someone that’s proven themselves rather than someone who isn’t a guarantee.

The obvious benefit of apprenticeships over anything else is the money. I went from earning minimum wage at a department store to earning a substantial amount every month, this was a motivation because I was able to enjoy things and loosen up my spending.

What has the experience been like?

The experience has been fantastic, I’ve been lucky enough to be in a fast-paced and dynamic office where no two days are the same.

Working in such a demanding office has given me the chance to gain vital experience and knowledge on how to plan campaigns and deal with critical incidents which will put me in good stead for my career.

What have you enjoyed about it?

The whole experience has been something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Meeting new people and getting real-life experience has been exciting and in my opinion, the best way of starting my career in public relations.

What has been the most challenging aspect?

Learning how to deal with journalists on the phone was tough at the start. It was my first time experiencing life in a public relations environment and was still learning the ropes around the legalities and systems we use.

Would you recommend apprenticeships to others? If so, why?

Definitely, the ability to gain work experience alongside gaining a useful qualification is something that in my opinion is invaluable.

Some apprenticeships offer further qualifications which give you a degree level qualification, three years’ worth of experience and a wage throughout. In my opinion, it’s a far better option than university where you gain no valuable experience and a large debt.