Apprenticeships support staff to deepen expertise, gain recognised qualifications and apply learning directly in their roles. In this interview to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Rob Dewar, Procurement Consultant, reflects on completing his Commercial Procurement and Supply apprenticeship, sharing how it strengthened his professional confidence, shaped his approach to supplier relationships, and enabled him to support and mentor colleagues starting their own apprenticeship journeys.
What skills or ways of working from your apprenticeship are you still using regularly today?
I use a lot of the skills and models I learned about supplier relationships and commercial negotiation, using them to understand market positioning both for ourselves as a customer, as well as for the suppliers that we are working with on a regular basis. It helps me to form effective strategies for working with suppliers and making sure that we are getting the best out of those relationships and transactions.
If you compare yourself now to before you started the apprenticeship, what feels most different?
I think that I am much more able to articulate my expertise and knowledge in a formalised way. I already had plenty of experience in my field before starting the apprenticeship, but having the theory and models to support my opinions has allowed me to provide advice in a much more professional and coherent way. It’s also helped me to grow in confidence and given me the ability to support and mentor other members of the team who have also started their apprenticeships.
What would you say to a colleague who is unsure whether an apprenticeship is “worth it”?
I’d say absolutely go for it. An apprenticeship is such a valuable opportunity to gain further skills and qualifications, which are funded, and come with the additional workplace support in terms of time off etc. I’ve seen plenty of friends and colleagues who have struggled to fund and manage their own professional development, and the support that comes with an apprenticeship just makes it feel like a no-brainer.
What advice would you give to someone about to start an apprenticeship alongside a busy role?
An apprenticeship is a lot of work and sometimes it can feel like a lot to manage on top of existing work and personal commitments, but it’s such a great opportunity to gain new skills. The best thing to do is to pace yourself; carve out regular chunks of time for studying and make sure it doesn’t get interrupted by other things. Make sure you hold yourself accountable as much as possible for sticking to that routine (or make sure you have people around you who can also keep you accountable).
Looking back, what types of support made the biggest difference to your success?
I had so much support during my apprenticeship, all of which contributed to my successes. This included the financial support to do the course in the first place, and the time off I was given to attend lessons and exams. Most importantly, the support I got from my manager and colleagues made a huge difference and is something that I am most grateful for. I would not have been able to do as well as I did with the apprenticeship and exams if it wasn’t for all the advice, encouragement, and mentoring that I got from colleagues and people who had already been on the same journey as me.
What helped you stay motivated through the more challenging parts of the programme?
I’m a bit of a perfectionist and pushed myself quite hard with the learning and exams, so I felt the pressure quite a lot, especially through the second half of the apprenticeship where it felt a bit like a marathon and trying to push through ‘the wall’. Some days the motivation really wasn’t there and it's also about recognising that and making sure you look after yourself and take time away from studying. My motivation came from friends. family and colleagues reminding me of how much I’d already achieved so far and giving me the confidence in my own ability to succeed (as well as reminding me to be kind to myself and take breaks!).
If you could meet anyone in this world today, who would you meet and why?
I would love to meet Sir Ian McKellan and have a long chat with him. He’s had such a fascinating life and career, and I’d love to talk to him about the various roles he has played, as well as his activism and general philosophy on life. I’m sure he has a lot of interesting stories to tell and worldly advice to give.
Rob’s experience highlights the lasting value of apprenticeships — combining theory with real-world experience, building confidence, and strengthening professional practice. For anyone considering an apprenticeship, Rob’s journey demonstrates how structured, funded learning can enhance both individual capability and team impact. staffapprenticeships@sussex.ac.uk