Declan Whittaker - Pentagon Motor Group
Declan’s Apprenticeship Journey
My name is Declan Whittaker, and I am an Accounts Assistant at Pentagon Motor Group, Barnsley. I have been employed by Pentagon for 4 years, originally employed as an Apprentice Accounts Assistant, studying Business Administration.
After sitting my GCSE’s and attending College, I made the decision to step away from a learning environment and started looking for alternative routes to develop my skills, advance my career and apply theory into a sector I enjoyed, away from the traditional University route. This is how I came across this Apprenticeship vacancy, advertised with Learning Skills Partnership. The blend of on-the-job training and off-the-job learning was exactly what I was looking for, especially as it gave me a Nationally Recognised Qualification at the end of it, which always looks great on a CV.
Taking on this Apprenticeship has not only helped me develop my skills and love for Accountancy, but also as a person. Whilst been employed with Pentagon Motor Group, I have celebrated a milestone birthday (21), and become a Dog Dad twice over. Pentagon Motor Group and Learning Skills Partnership have not only watched me become the person I am today, but guided and supported me on my journey.
Going back to joining Pentagon, at the age of 18, I didn’t know anything about the industry, or how working life would be, all I knew was I was good with numbers, and, as any typical lad, I liked cars (cliché). I admit I was pretty naïve coming into a working environment but settled in quickly, and soon got into the habit of working a full-time role. It was tiring, but so rewarding. I didn’t realise how much of a different world it would be coming into employment from full time education, but I knew I was ambitious and knew I had to succeed. Coming from a family where both my parents have very skilled jobs, I felt an added pressure to do something worthwhile with my education and my life.
Throughout my employment with Pentagon Motor Group, I have really developed my learning and skill set. Starting as an Apprentice, studying Business Administration Level 2, to now almost completing my AAT L3, with an Individual Development Plan of completing my AAT L4 and ACCA whilst working for the Group. I have never felt alone or unsupported, and feel very lucky to have such a great team to work alongside. I have a dedicated Manager who pushes me to learn more each week, and regularly gives me more advanced projects and responsibilities to help with my AAT Studies and enhance my skill set. This is alongside the brilliant support from my Tutors at Learning Skills Partnership, who do everything they can to prepare me for assessments, and build my foundation knowledge and achieve my life-long ambitions and goals.
The best thing about working with Learning Skills Partnership to achieve my qualifications is that the Tutors are always on hand to give you advice and guidance, and they really encourage you to think for yourself, rather than give you the answers directly, which enhances my learning experience. The tutors make learning as easy and as fun as possible, and I think I have built up some really great and trusting relationships with them, and I know that they will continue to support me throughout my learning journey as far as they can. It also really shows that they care about me as an individual with the amount of praise and support I am given when I am preparing for and sitting exams. This reinforces my decision to take on an Apprenticeship instead of going into a more formal setting of Further Education.
Studying my NVQ Standard and AAT with Pentagon has not only taught me the basics of Accountancy, but also life experience and it has been a massive learning curve for me to see how a Business runs and operates, and how my skillset and work ethics contribute to the bigger company picture and progression. The transition from leaving Full Time Education to working a full time job has been interesting, but I have been made to feel at ease since I started, and my career prospects have grown massively since joining.
To anybody who is undecided about taking on an Apprenticeship, I would say GO FOR IT! This is by far the best thing I could have done, I have taken a discipline that I am passionate about, and made it into my future. For anybody who wants to come out of formal schooling, earn some money, get qualifications and be a better person, this is by far the best route to take. I have advanced quicker than my friends that went to university, and, with my wage, I have saved enough to pay a deposit on my first home, at the age of 22. Apprenticeships can be daunting and very hands on and challenging, but the opportunities that they present are second to none, and its great way to kick start your career.