Melissa Harris

Business Administration at Optionis

Melissa Harris started her Level 2 Business Administration apprenticeship in January 2018 whilst undertaking a role as an Administration Assistant for Optionis at their Warrington office.

Melissa chose to take the Business Administration Level 2 apprenticeship in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the work that she completes for her employer, and also to progress her role further.

Despite gaining qualifications at school, college and university previously, Melissa had not progressed in a role in her qualified subject. Therefore, she decided that undertaking an apprenticeship would mean that she gains on the job experience and a practical qualification that would enable her to have a job in this field for life. Melissa also believes that with this apprenticeship, she will get to experience the practical aspects of work as well as the theory whereas previously with education it was all based around classroom theory based learning.

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I enjoy my role as an Admin Assistant and decided I wanted to learn more, and have an in-depth knowledge behind the work we complete. I felt completing the apprenticeship would help me progress in my current role within my current workplace, or somewhere else in the future. I wanted more experience. 

I am enjoying the apprenticeship and looking forward to completing it and gaining my diploma/certificate. With regards to future plans, I am happy as I am for now but open to progressing in the future.

I think that Paragon Skills are great, Keith my tutor is very friendly and always there if I have any questions. I would definitely recommend them.

Melissa’s thoughts on the apprenticeship so far

Even just 4 months into the apprenticeship, Melissa has learnt so much about why certain tasks are important, and how it benefits the workplace. It has allowed Melissa to change how she works to ensure positive outcomes. This includes not only standard business administration practices, but also more about health and safety, safeguarding and who to turn to if there are any issues externally as well as internal.

Melissa believes that the practical experience in the workplace is valuable because it allows her to complete her tasks and achieve targets on a daily basis. In doing so Melissa is gaining excellent experience which will enable her to progress her role and develop her skills for the business sector. These skills are generic and can be applied in any business and any sector. At present Melissa is learning how to use printing and franking machines, how to adhere to data protection laws and how to receive/distribute and send post in a business.

In particular, Melissa has enjoyed completing the knowledge points that are important in any apprenticeship. She is also learning more about each aspect of the Apprenticeship through undertaking research and talking to other colleagues in the business.

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