National Apprenticeship Week at BGU: An interview with Senior Lecturer and Careers Advisor - Aggi Doughty

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 takes place from Monday 10^th February to Sunday 18^th February, across the UK. Joining together businesses and apprentices across the country, this celebratory event highlights the positive impact that apprenticeships make!

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As part of the celebration, here at BGU, we interviewed Aggi Doughty, Senior Lecturer and Careers Adviser, – to find out more about our Career Development Professional Apprenticeship (CDPA), the backgrounds of our current cohort of students and their experiences here at BGU.

1. How would you describe the CDPA?

“The CDPA is a Level 6 degree equivalent qualification which enables those who gain it to become a Registered Professional with the Career Development Institute. It is suitable for anyone supporting other to make career decisions, from HR to University careers professionals!”

2. What makes studying the CDPA at BGU a unique experience?

“Studying the CDPA at BGU gives you access to all the University facilities, such as the Library, IT support, Learning Development – and much more!

“Through our blended approach you have seven on-campus days throughout the apprenticeship duration of 24 months, and the rest of the teaching is online.

“Our team of experienced lectures have a wide variety of experience in many different areas of careers practice, from local government to private schools to NEET reduction and Careers Leadership in multi-academy trusts, so we can support you to evidence your learning through real-life scenarios.”

3. How diverse are the job roles and sectors that your cohort of students are working in?

“We are lucky to have a huge variety of sectors represented on the CDPA cohorts, which makes the breadth of discussions extremely illuminating!

“We have learners who work for the NHS; in secure units; with targeted communities such as travellers or SEND; within different educational establishments; within other apprenticeship providers; within HE and for Local Authorities.

“The diverse span of career work is definitely represented in our learners, allowing them to share good practice and learn from each other.”

4. What aspect of the course do you find that students enjoy the most?

“Our learners love our on-campus days. We use the face to face learning time as opportunities to explore practice in a practical way, through activities such as role play, developing and delivering lesson plans, scenario based learning in groups and lots of practical activities to bring the theory to life.

“We like ‘doing’ when we are all together, so these days move away from the traditional lecture into more creative territory. Our learners relish this and always request more time on campus.”

5. Does the CDPA support students with their future career aspirations?

“Our learners develop confidence through ‘doing’ all the way through the apprenticeship. This leads to demonstrable and measurable increases in their confidence and capability in their practice.

“We try lots of new ideas out and sit with them until they become useful in practice. Many learners receive promotions while in post through their increased awareness of and confidence within their roles – which they tell us is down to the opportunity to reflect on their own development throughout the apprenticeship and encourage them to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.”

6. From the perspective of a tutor, how do you see individuals develop from the start to the end of the apprenticeship, both personally and professionally?

“From my own perspective, there’s nothing I love more than when a learner begins to see the connection between the theories we study and their own practice. Recently this was demonstrated in a group discussion online where several learners compared the different ways, they had used a theory resource we looked at in the apprenticeship.

“To hear them freely discussing and evaluating the different uses they had found for the resource was music to my ears – and I definitely learnt a few new different ways to use it myself as well.”

7. Is there a sense of community amongst students, despite the majority of the course taking place online?

“Our learners quickly form a shared bond through their experience on the CDPA, and they create their own networks outside and within the apprenticeship. We know of learners who support each other’s events professionally, who give guest speaker sessions for their colleagues’ organisations and attend careers fairs.

“As well as swapping questions about the learning and checking their own understanding with each other, we know that there is a community of practice that evolves form the taught sessions. The infamous ‘WhatsApp’ groups are buzzing with ideas and sharing of good practice.

“It’s a testament to their comradeship and willingness to support each other, and it’s something we foster through the apprenticeship in our formal Professional Practice sessions online, where we create a community of support and integrity to share good practice.”

Subsequently, we spoke to some of Aggi’s students, who are able to provide an invaluable insight into the experience of the CDPA at BGU.

Helen, who works in the Apprenticeship and Adult Education Team at Lincoln College said: “I have been really pleased with studying at BGU. The course is really well organised and the in person training sessions are very beneficial.”

Tracey, Careers Officer at InspireU – a service provided by Lincolnshire County Council's Children's Services, said: “Taking part in the Career Development Professional Apprenticeship has opened up so many opportunities for me and my future career!”

Neil, who works at Pilgrim Hospital School, said: “BGU have been absolutely fantastic – the tutors are very supportive, and the sessions enable you to generate your own ideas and share them in a classroom environment with others.”

Sophie, a Careers and Employability Worker, said: “The best part of the apprenticeship is the support I have received – the tutors are great and are always there to answer any questions. I’ve been able to develop my skills significantly throughout my time here!”

To find out more about our Careers Development Professional Apprenticeship and other apprenticeships available at BGU, please click here.

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