Employee Spotlight – Maisie Lannaghan – National Apprenticeship Week 2020

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Carrying on with our spotlight series for National Apprenticeship week, take a bow, Maisie Lannaghan.

Maisie is an NVQ apprentice studying for her NVQ Level 3 within business administration and an integral part of our Responsive team.

Question and Answer session:-

Why did you decide on an apprenticeship rather than a more conventional academic route, such as university?

In my final year of secondary school, I really struggled to think what I wanted to do after I had finished my GCSE’s. I looked around all the local sixth forms, visited Lakes College and attend an open day at Energus. I wanted to keep my options open.

Due to not knowing the career I wanted to pursue, I decided to attend sixth form, as at sixth form you can study up to four subjects giving you more range of study, rather than being fixed to a single college course or apprenticeship. 

I started sixth form in September 2017 and choose 3 subjects – Geography, Applied Science and Business. I thought it was good to choose a broad range of subjects, as each could lead me down a different road in terms of careers.

After the first few months I decided sixth form wasn’t the path for me, but I decided to carry on till the end of the academic year so that I could gain my AS Levels.

During the summer I looked for apprenticeships and courses but was worried that it was the wrong decision, so I went back to sixth form for the final year.

I realised I still wasn’t happy there. I applied for Gen2 and attended a meeting with a Gen2 HR advisor. Before I knew it, I had job interviews lined up that Gen2 had helped me gain. 

I started Responsive in January 2019. I took the gamble and it paid off. My fears of being fixated to one area were wrong. Within one year at Responsive I have covered so many different aspects of the business which has allowed me to grow as an employee and an individual.

With an apprenticeship you can still attend college. I attend Gen2 every fortnight to carry out coursework and have time to speak to my assessor.

This was the right decision for me.      

If you could do anything else other than work Monday to Friday, what would that be? – If I had a million pounds.

I’ve had a bucket list since I was younger that I’ve added to with age. If I didn’t work Monday to Friday and was a millionaire (one day) I would be travelling to complete my bucket list. I want to experience life and meet people from different walks of life. I want to go to Peru to see the rainbow mountain,  sit on the swing at the end of the world in Banos, Ecuador, Go to the Galapagos Islands, and so much more. There’s only one life you get to do this in might as well make the most of it.

However I am not a millionaire, so if I didn’t work Monday to Friday (Saturday too) I would most likely be curled up on sofa with the blanket, eating my weight in food and binge watching a tv series that I’ve seen a million times – dreadful isn’t it. 

And that is why I need to work…

When you were younger, what job did you think you would be doing when you grew up?

I was never fixated on one job when I was younger. I was constantly changing my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I think my answer changed whenever someone asked. I think the main one that sticks out in my head is that I wanted to be a dolphin trainer!

When I got older though I had my heart set on wanting the be a Rockette in New York or playing Roxie Hart in Chicago on the West End – it could still happen.

Favourite pastime, what do you live for?

I’d say my favourite thing to do in the whole world is spend time with the family. I love being able to spend time with my grandparents and listen to all of stories about what they would get up to when they were my age and about their parents. I think it’s important to appreciate them and carry on their stories as they are the people who have helped you grow into the person you are.

I also love to dance and sing. I have been dancing since I was 3 and singing, well forever! I think it’s good to have hobbies and sports growing up as they teach you more than you’d expect – Discipline, Teamwork, Communication, Sportsmanship, Determination and Persistence. Qualities that will help you continuously throughout the course of your life.

5 years’ time, what role will you dream to be in at Responsive?

In 5 years’, time I would say my dream role would be to be the overall Quality Director throughout all the businesses we have here at Responsive and have my own apprentices and staff. I want to be gaining more qualifications for myself that will allow me to gain more roles and responsibilities. I want to help the business expand to its full potential.

If you could make any suggestion to school leavers who may be struggling with decisions on future career options, what would that be?

I would say don’t feel like you must be in a rush, sometimes the first route you take isn’t the right one. Explore all your options and it’s never too late to start something new. 

Enjoy your time at school or whatever stage you are in your life and don’t be in a rush to grow up – I’m 19 and still haven’t grew up.

Lee says – Maisie is the most recent apprentice employee within Responsive – during her first year, she wrote our winning In-Cumbria Awards entry for Best Professional Service Company