Written by 11 February 2025
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, our Digital Marketing Apprentice, Madison, caught up with fellow Apprentices Alex and Madi to talk about their experiences at Shoreham Port.
Alex is a Finance Apprentice nearing the end of his AAT qualification this spring. Meanwhile, Madi, an Electrical Apprentice, joined our Engineering team in October 2024 and is currently working towards her Installation Electrician diploma. Leading the discussion is Madison, who joined the Port’s Communications team in September and is working towards her Multi-Channel Marketer Level 3 qualification.
Madison: Thank you for joining me for National Apprenticeship Week to chat about our experiences as Apprentices at Shoreham Port!
Every career journey is unique, with paths like university or Apprenticeships offering different opportunities. To start, it would be great to hear what led you both to choose an Apprenticeship, and when you realised that Shoreham Port was the right place for you?
Alex: Growing up, I saw both of my brothers start their careers as Apprentices and progress into management roles, so I knew that was something that I wanted to pursue too. It was reassuring to know that an Apprenticeship offers a clear path for career progression, compared to other routes like university. I knew Shoreham Port was the right place for me after attending the Port’s ‘Getting to Know Us’ Apprenticeship open evening. Learning more about the Port and meeting the people who work here made me realise how much of a unique place it is to work. I could tell from that first day that everyone enjoyed working at the Port.
Madi: Throughout my childhood my dad and I would often spend time fixing old game consoles together. I was so fascinated by all the electronics and being able to learn something that not many people understood. As I got older, I started looking into different career options, and Apprenticeships stood out to me as they are hands-on. I have always enjoyed being shown how to do something and then being able to try it myself, so being in an environment where I can apply what I’m learning every day sounded amazing.
Madison: Those are great points! I was definitely drawn to the opportunity to gain real life experience while earning a salary, working towards a qualification, and learning directly from experts. The atmosphere at the ‘Getting to Know Us’ event really reassured me that this was the right place for me too—everyone spoke with such enthusiasm about their jobs!
Madison: Could you both walk me through a typical week in your apprenticeship?
Madi:Each morning our team meet to set out our plan for the day and then we get to work! My typical week includes shadowing and learning from my mentors. Lately we have been working on running and install data cables across the Port. Along with this, I attend college once a week to strengthen my knowledge on the theory side of electrical engineering.
Alex: My day-to-day has developed a lot since I started my Apprenticeship 16 months ago. I’m now comfortably integrated into my team and carry out regular finance duties, just like my peers. It fills me with confidence knowing that I am trusted with these responsibilities as an Apprentice. I also attend college one day per week and have dedicated study time at work to ensure I can achieve the highest grade possible.
Madison: Before starting, you both probably had an idea of what an Apprenticeship might be like. How does the reality compare to your expectations?
Alex: I did not expect to be given such a variety of opportunities. In my time here I have already covered a supervisory role in our operations department and completed numerous data analysis tasks which have been used for business development. It keeps things fresh and interesting at work, and I have enjoyed learning about all the different aspects of the Port.
Madi: I didn’t know much about the Port when I first started here, and starting a new job was a little scary. At this early stage of my Apprenticeship, I have limited knowledge, so that can be challenging at times, but I am still learning.
However the people here are amazing! They’ve made me feel comfortable asking as many questions as I need to, and every day there is something new that I get to try out. I absolutely love the Port, I feel like I’m gaining not just technical skills, but also valuable life experience. Being able to apply those skills I’ve learned makes it even better.
Madison: It sounds like you both have learned a lot in your time here! What would you say is your biggest accomplishment so far?
Alex: My biggest accomplishment is when I helped with running the HGV fleet for a period whilst additional resource was needed. I had to adapt to a new environment and supervise experienced drivers, which was a daunting prospect as it was totally new to me. I’ve received only positive feedback and learned a lot about that aspect of the Port, so I’m pleased to have been trusted with the opportunity.
Madi: In my 4 short months here I believe I have accomplished so much already. Not only do I feel a lot more confident with the jobs I am carrying out on a daily basis, I am also given some tasks to do independently and am trusted to do a good job by myself, like work on installing signal boxes. I’ve made some great friends here already and I always look forward to coming to work every day.
Madison: Thank you, Alex and Madi, for taking the time to answer my questions and sharing your thoughts about your Apprenticeship and working at the Port!
Could an Apprenticeship at Shoreham Port be right for you?
We usually open our Apprenticeship applications in Spring, host ‘Getting to know us’ and ‘Getting to know you’ days in May and July, with Apprentices starting work in September. You can stay up to date with the latest vacancies at Shoreham Port by signing up to our monthly newsletter and following our social media channels.
Category: Blog
