Don’t read too much into this, but the best thing I got on Valentine’s Day this year was a certificate. After months of hard work, it marked completion of my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Library, Information and Archive Services. At last I’m officially qualified to do my job!
I’m Nathan, Senior Library Assistant in the Education Centre Library at Warwick Hospital. I started my apprenticeship at the beginning of 2023 and completed the endpoint assessment (EPA) at the start of December 2024. The certificate presentation at George Eliot Hospital in February 2025 was the icing on the cake.
It’s all about the journey
What does a library apprenticeship involve? It’s been an intriguing journey. As well as getting to grips with the basics of the job through on-the-job learning, I had the chance to venture out and peek behind the scenes of some unexpected places. From the picturesque Stratford Public Library (and its marginally less picturesque basement) to the secure archival storage at Warwickshire County Records Office, and from the archives of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust at the British Motor Museum to the spacious floors of the University of Warwick library, there was a lot to see and learn, and I wanted to make the most of every opportunity. A day each week away from the library helpdesk meant I had time, not only to head off on these jaunts, but also to get my head down and focus on learning new concepts. Building on one-to-one sessions with Kim, my apprenticeship tutor, I was also completing written assignments and preparing presentations and discussion topics.
In order to pass the apprenticeship, I would need to demonstrate all the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out by CILIP – the library and information association, who accredit the qualification. This required me to build a portfolio of assignments, record the hours of off-the-job learning I completed, and finally participate in a professional discussion to prove that, yes, I really had done the work myself.
The biggest challenge for me was coming back to any kind of study after several years in a completely non-academic role. An apprenticeship was the ideal way to manage this transition, as most of my time was spent learning by doing, with specified hours each week set aside to concentrate on study. My tutor, Kim, was also great at gradually building towards the things I was most nervous about, such as delivering presentations. As the months went by, it was great to see the evidence building up in my portfolio of just how much I’d learnt and achieved. This culminated in my final project, for which I designed and delivered an introductory training session on generative AI, which was attended by some pretty senior people in the organisation. It was something I wouldn’t have dreamed I could do when I first started, and I’m proud of the achievement. Once that project was done and written up, the very last hurdle was an assessment meeting with a CILIP representative in December. Thankfully, my nerves didn’t get the better of me and I was able to talk about all the key points I needed to cover. A couple of weeks later, I heard that I had passed!
Cupcakes, catch-ups and certificates
I wasn’t expecting a ceremony to celebrate so, when the invitation came through, I was surprised and pleased. The day of the ceremony dawned, and I made my way over to Nuneaton. I’ve been there quite a few times now, but it’s still always a refreshing change from the everyday library routine in Warwick. Some friendly and familiar faces in the foyer welcomed us to the George Eliot Training and Education Centre (GETEC). Delicious cupcakes accompanied the coffee offered to us, and it was nice to have an opportunity to mingle and share experiences with the other former apprentices receiving their certificates. Knowledge and Library Services at George Eliot and South Warwickshire sit within the wider People Development Services team so I recognised a lot of the people involved in organising the day. Sarah Newton, Head of People Development, opened the ceremony with a really positive message, and Sara MacLeod, Interim Chief People Officer, shared her own words of celebration and presented us with our certificates.
Reflections
I am so grateful to everyone who has been part of my move into NHS Knowledge and Library Services. Managers and colleagues have been incredibly generous and supportive in sharing tips, checking in on how I’m doing and encouraging me to stretch beyond my comfort zone. Particular shout-outs go to Zoe, Caroline and Gavin, but it’s been great to know that the whole team has had my back throughout. I wouldn’t have got anywhere without my tutor, Kim at SCCU, who was simply brilliant. The apprenticeship provided a fantastic framework to develop new skills, and I would encourage anyone who’s looking to make their next move to consider it as an option. Apprenticeships are available at all levels, in all sorts of careers. You can find out more on the UK Government Apprenticeships website. As for me, I’m not completely sure yet which direction to take from here but, with an apprenticeship under my belt, I know I’m in a strong position.