“I Learn Better from Being Hands-On” – Why Sophie Chose an Apprenticeship at 16
Sophie Harrison is a Level 3 Business Administrator apprentice at East Sussex College, working at Hashtag Properties, where she plays a key role in supporting the day-to-day running of a busy estate agency.
Since starting her apprenticeship at just 16, Sophie has embraced the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while continuing her education. From property viewings and inspections to managing emails and working with suppliers, she has quickly developed a wide-ranging skillset in a real working environment.
Sophie chose the apprenticeship route over full-time education to better suit her learning style and career ambitions.
“I decided to take a Business Administrator Level 3 apprenticeship when I left school rather than staying in full time education because there were not many A-Levels that stood out to me and I find that I learn better from being hands-on. I then decided to become a business administrator because this is a qualification that can be used in loads of work places.”
In her role at Hashtag Properties, no two days are the same. Sophie supports a variety of tasks that keep the business running smoothly and ensure clients receive a high level of service.
“At Hashtag Properties I am the administrator and during my day-to-day work I do a range of different things like viewings, inspections, handling customer enquiries over the phone, managing professional email communications, creating marketing materials to promote properties, and many other things including working closely with suppliers to fix up properties ready for rent.”
Through her apprenticeship, Sophie has already developed valuable practical skills and industry knowledge that are directly applicable to her role.
“So far in my apprenticeship, I have gained a range of practical skills and industry knowledge that I can apply in a real property environment. I have developed strong communication and customer service skills by speaking with clients, arranging viewings, and responding to enquiries, and built a good understanding of the property market, including how valuations work, the buying and renting process, and the legal requirements involved.”
East Sussex College has played an important role in supporting Sophie throughout her journey.
“Every 4-6 weeks I have a meeting with my college tutor via teams. I find these meetings very helpful as my tutor gives me assistance in what to upload onto smart assessor, and uses the assessor feedback to confirm I cover all the topics that are needed for my course.
“My most rewarding experience in the job so far was getting the confidence to do my own viewing. I have always felt shy around new people, however, working in the real-life environment has helped me grow my confidence a lot. This is because one day I stepped out of my comfort zone and did a viewing out of the blue for the very first time, although this was uncomfortable at first it has to this day really helped with my confidence.”
Jumping into the world of work straight from school presented some challenges, but Sophie has shown determination in overcoming them.
“One major challenge I have faced due to only being 16 is the lack of transportation. Not being allowed to drive yet has restricted the amount of these I can do. Luckily when I manage many properties surrounding the office I can still get my experience, but my colleague also works with me and drives me to some of these places.”
Looking ahead, Sophie is excited about her future, having already secured an opportunity to continue her career with the company.
“Hashtag Properties have offered me a full-time position when my apprenticeship finishes so I’ll continue to develop, gain more confidence and help the company grow.”
Based on her own experience, Sophie would encourage other young people to seriously consider apprenticeships as a pathway into their career.
“Don’t rule it out just because it’s different from university. Apprenticeships let you earn money while you learn and gain real work experience at the same time. Earning whilst learning is a big advantage."