Exeter College apprentice earns major recognition for outstanding contribution in the workplace
Exeter College apprentice Lauren Flood is celebrating being nominated for Apprentice of the Year at the West Country Women Awards, a prestigious event which honours the outstanding contributions of women in the region and their positive impact on the community.
Lauren, who is studying a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship at Exeter College, was nominated for her outstanding achievements in the workplace and her commitment to professional development.
After initially choosing to study an Animal Care course, Lauren decided to switch to the apprenticeship route because she knew the hands-on experiences it offered would benefit her most.
Lauren Flood, Level 3 Business Administration apprentice at Exeter College, said:
“I wanted to gain skills in the workplace because I’m a practical learner. An apprenticeship gave me the best opportunity to put theory into practice, as well as gaining the benefits of being in employment.
“Going straight into a workplace helped me learn quickly and build skills I don’t think I would have gained in a classroom alone. Being nominated for this award feels like I’ve been recognised for the efforts I’ve put into my apprenticeship so far.”
Lauren’s decision proved transformative, and she is now able to gain valuable experience in a sector she cares about through her apprenticeship with DYS Space Ltd (Space Youth Services), a charity that supports young people across the region.
During her apprenticeship, Lauren has quickly discovered a passion for HR and people development, coordinating training, working on policy writing and supporting HR functions.
She has taken on responsibilities beyond her expected role, identifying organisational gaps and introducing improvements within the organisation. Lauren also developed new processes to support staff and senior leadership, updated key organisational policies, including the charity’s menopause and menstruation policy, and created a capacity tracker to monitor staffing, projects and contracted hours, which is already being used by managers across the organisation.
These contributions led to her nomination for Apprentice of the Year by Steph Holwell, Strategic Lead for Projects and Partnerships at Space Youth Services. Throughout her apprenticeship Lauren has received dedicated support from Exeter College, and she credits both her lecturer and her Skills Officer with helping her stay on track.
Lauren continued:
“I’ve taken on quite a lot of work. I’ve used my initiative and I’ve looked for gaps where we might be lacking in certain areas.
“The College has been really helpful. Whenever I need support, I can call or email, and they’re on top of everything. They’ve helped me figure out what I want to do next.”
Looking ahead, Lauren plans to continue progressing in HR, with ambitions to complete a higher-level apprenticeship in HR and People Management, ideally working towards a CIPD Level 4 or Level 5 qualification.
Lauren explained:
“You get qualifications, practical experience, and you’re part of a workplace. It’s the best of everything.
“For students considering an apprenticeship, I’d advise they make the most of the support available at Exeter College and stay organised! Building good communication and teamwork skills early on will prepare you better for your future career.”
The 2025 West Country Women Awards winners will be announced on 28 November.
For more information about apprenticeships at Exeter College, visit https://exe-coll.ac.uk/apprenticeships/, contact the Apprenticeships Team on 01392 400800, or attend an upcoming Open Event.
