For Carol Laycock, 19, an apprenticeship with Direct Line Group was the opportunity of a lifetime
Carol trained to become a human resources manager through Direct Line Group’s apprenticeship programme and has now secured a full-time role with the company.
“The thing I enjoyed most about the programme is the variety of projects I have been involved in,” Carol said. “From processing contracts and conducting telephone interviews, to dealing with employee queries, understanding business policies, and payroll processing.”
As a result of her various placements, Carol feels she has a great understanding not just of the HR department, but of the wider business. She has no doubt about her two biggest achievements so far:
“I am so proud to have achieved my CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualification. I worked very hard on my weekly study days and outside of work, to complete assignments to a high standard.”
She doesn’t take all the credit though: “Achieving it is all thanks to the support and time dedicated to me from my colleagues. They genuinely care about me and take my needs into consideration.”
Carol’s colleagues certainly must be impressed by her. Her second big achievement? “I secured a full-time, permanent HR advisor role with Direct Line Group before I even completed my apprenticeship.”
So where will she go from here?
“I am surrounded by great people and can only see myself progressing even further with DLG.”
Asked what advice she would give to anyone thinking about applying for a Direct Line Group apprenticeship, Carol’s answer comes quick as a flash: “Go for it! It’s the best decision I have ever made.”
