A little about Israa’s apprenticeship…
Apprenticeship Title
Level 3 Financial Services Administrator
Job title and employer
Underwriting Operations Apprentice at HDI
What are 3 skills you’ve learned so far?
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration
- Confidence
What are 3 interests outside of work?
In my free time, I love journaling, long walks by the Thames, and travelling to new cities.
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What inspired you to choose an apprenticeship as your next step?
Initially, I was completely shut off to the idea of apprenticeships, but my school needed us to find work experience. This is when I came across Visionpath and started exploring apprenticeships, that I realised university was not my only option. Through the support of my family and teachers at school, I decided that this is the route I would like to take. The biggest eye opener for my journey was the Apprenticeship Discovery programme that Visionpath host with London Market Group (LMG), last year. This is where I got a real insight to the amount of opportunities on my doorstep.
Is there anything in the job or industry you're especially keen to learn more about?
I'm interested in developing my skills within data analysis. In my current role, attention to detail is a huge deal so I would like to build on that by learning how to interpret data to make informed decisions. I'd also love to understand why and how data analysis supports business performance.
What’s something you’re proud of so far?
I'm incredibly proud of how much I've learned since starting my apprenticeship. I've developed both technical and communications skills and I can see how I've grown in confidence when completing tasks independently.
"Visionpath played a huge role in this as I had learned how to network with others through the Futures Academy programme."
Did you face any challenges during your assessment or onboarding process?
The biggest challenge I faced with my assessment and onboarding process was overcoming self-doubt. At first, I found myself constantly worrying about what others might think which made me second guess my own abilities. Over time I learned to focus more on my own progress and truly be myself. Once I believed in myself I found that this helped me perform better within my role.
What support have you received throughout your journey so far, and what’s made a difference?
I’ve received a lot of support throughout my apprenticeship journey, especially from my manager and colleagues from my team. They’ve been really patient and always willing to help me understand new processes, which made it much easier to settle in and build confidence. My family and teachers from sixth form also encouraged me to take this opportunity and believed in my ability to succeed, which gave me the motivation to push myself. The guidance from Visionpath before I started helped me feel more prepared and reassured about entering the workplace
What moment made you realise you’d made the right decision choosing an apprenticeship?
The moment I knew for certain that I had made the correct decision for me was being able to speak to this year’s futures academy cohort. I remembered being in their seats and I had all of the same questions to ask the apprentices and it just felt like I had a full circle moment.
"I truly felt like I was making a difference and helping all these students by sharing my own story."
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Connect with Israa!
Here at Visionpath, our Ambassador Community is more than just a network, it’s a movement. Our ambassadors are current and former apprentices who are passionate about making a difference by sharing their real-life journeys to inspire the next generation.
Are you a current or former apprentice who wants to get involved in the movement? Email ambassadors@visionpath.co.uk to get started.
