Ashton Jones

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.  

My name is Ashton. I first left school thinking I was going to join the RAF, but I had a change of heart and decided to start looking for an apprenticeship more locally. I don’t regret this decision as I believe an apprenticeship is a great way to start my career. My role at Everything Managed is as a Customer Service Advisor, but I’ve had the opportunity to learn about other departments and the different aspects of how a business runs. 

How did you hear about Newcastle College? Did you attend an Open Day before starting at the College, or did you find out another way?  

I heard about Newcastle College through my high school. I first applied here to do a standard course, which I studied for a year before deciding to transition into an apprenticeship. I also went to an Open Event to get an insight into the apprenticeship, and for my potential employers to get a good impression of me before the interview stage. 

Why did you choose to study at Newcastle College? And what made you decide to enrol on an apprenticeship through the College?  

For me, Newcastle College is a good place to choose to study because there is such a vast number of different courses. The College Assessors on my apprenticeship are all very good at keeping up-to-date with my progression and are always available if I ever have any queries or need extra support. The Assessors also keep in touch with my employer to make sure that there are no issues while I’m at work. 

How much would you say you have benefitted from learning from industry-experienced tutors at Newcastle College?   

The tutors at Newcastle College are very experienced in their subject, especially in my class, so I always feel like I’m learning the curriculum content while also getting advice that I could only get from an expert working in the sector. From an employment perspective, my apprenticeship has given me much more confidence alongside teaching me how organisations work from a people-focused point of view. Thanks to my time on campus, I’ve also learnt how to balance homework assignments and revision with my employment work. 

What do you enjoy the most about your apprenticeship?  

The best part of my apprenticeship has to be meeting new people and gaining new experiences that I would never have gained if I’d gone down a different route, like studying to go to university. Meeting these people has helped me grow a lot as a person and a professional, which is definitely going to help me in my future career and life in general. 

What are your ambitions after you finish your course and further into the future?  

Once I finish my apprenticeship, I would like to stay in employment within Everything Managed and work my way up the professional ladder whilst gaining more skills and enhancing the abilities I already have. 

What would you say to anyone thinking of studying an apprenticeship with Newcastle College?  

If you’re thinking about going into an apprenticeship with Newcastle College, I’d definitely tell you to go for it, as it will help you to gain practical experience and learn the theory of your subject whilst earning a wage. I’d also say that, if you’re not fully certain what you would like to do for your career, try an apprenticeship – through an apprenticeship, you can try a new experience whilst learning new skills that will benefit you in future. 

Describe your experience at Newcastle College in three words. 

Insightful. Confidence-building.  

What are your top five tips for studying at Newcastle College? 

1. Try balance college work and employer work as best as possible 

1. Enjoy meeting new people through your apprenticeship 

1. Don’t be afraid to use your one-to-one sessions with College Assessors to ask questions 

1. To make life easier, always log any off-the-job hours as you go along 

1. Use the apprenticeship to grow as a person and not just to build up your career.