Building a Business Career Through an Apprenticeship
Savannah Coughlan-Price is a Level 3 Business Administrator apprentice at East Sussex College, working at Rhino Asphalt Solutions – a private specialist highway maintenance company delivering high-quality, service-driven work.
From the very start of her apprenticeship, Savannah has shown a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and a high level of professionalism.
She chose an apprenticeship to combine real-world experience with continued learning. “I chose to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to gain real work experience, alongside developing my education further,” Savannah told the College. “Before I looked into apprenticeships, I wasn’t sure what they included, but gaining an understanding of the professional world and being able to create my own career path has always been important to me. When I found this course, I knew I would be able to do this, whilst continuing to learn and gain new qualifications.”
In her role, Savannah supports a range of administrative and business tasks, helping the team stay organised and work efficiently. She is known for her excellent attention to detail, strong organisational skills and proactive approach. Savannah doesn’t wait to be asked – she looks for ways to improve processes, support colleagues and take on new responsibilities.
She specifically chose a Business Administration apprenticeship to give her a broad and transferable skillset, saying, “I specifically chose a Business Administration apprenticeship course, to strengthen my industry knowledge and gain skills that can be applied to a variety of office-based career opportunities.”
One of Savannah’s biggest achievements so far has been progressing into a permanent position within the Estimating team after just a few months in her administrative role – a move she is particularly proud of.
“Since starting my apprenticeship, I have learnt to challenge myself, and my professional and personal confidence has grown,” she said. “I am especially proud of progressing into my new department, to work as part of the Estimating team. Moving into a new role already is a great sense of achievement and I hope to continue in this direction.”
Savannah’s commitment to learning is another standout part of her apprenticeship. She has completed more than half of her apprenticeship modules ahead of schedule and actively seeks feedback to improve her work. She has even delivered a presentation on her coursework to the company director, demonstrating confidence, preparation and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone.
She particularly values the independence and support her apprenticeship offers, adding, “I particularly enjoy being able to complete my apprenticeship work independently, meaning the work is tailored to my learning needs. In my day-to-day life, I enjoy working with my team and being able to learn from professionals who have great experience working in this area.”
Savannah has also taken on added responsibility by supporting and training a new apprentice, further developing her skills and confidence.
“I am excited to have been given more responsibility and to build more knowledge in a new area. I was also able to train the new apprentice, as they moved into my previous role. This gave me an opportunity to gain experience in training and working closely alongside colleagues, which I am especially proud of.”
Her East Sussex College apprenticeship assessor, Lee Horsley, has been impressed by her progress. “From the very beginning, Savannah has shown exceptional commitment, drive and maturity in her approach to both her learning and her role,” said Lee. “She has consistently gone above and beyond expectations, demonstrating excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and a proactive attitude that has made her a real asset to her team.”
Looking ahead, Savannah is focused on continuing her development and progressing further in her career.
“My current goals include developing my career and pursuing more qualifications,” said Savannah. “I would like to continue to take on more responsibility and new tasks, progressing into more senior roles. I am interested in looking into higher apprenticeship levels, including a degree, so that I can continue to further my education, whilst still working and earning.”
Through her apprenticeship, Savannah is gaining valuable real-world experience while building a strong foundation for her future career – showing how apprenticeships can open doors, support progression and help young people thrive in the workplace.