'I’ve learnt more than I could have imagined’
Ruby Featherby reflects on her journey as an Employee Experience Apprentice with the Met Office.
Since starting as a Met Office apprentice in September 2022, I’ve been able to take part in a variety of projects and opportunities, and evolve not only as an employee but also as a person. I’ve learned from our experts and upskilled my knowledge in different areas of our team including pay, employee relations and dealing with wide-ranging queries from our employees.
When I started, the Early Careers team provided many opportunities for the apprentices to meet up and connect with one another. This gave us the chance to settle in and not feel too daunted by joining a large organisation.
Since then, I’ve been able to take part in many projects, including helping to create podcasts and organising in person events at our headquarters in Exeter with my fellow apprentices. I’m most proud of the work I was involved in to develop ‘Life Events and Lived Experiences’ internal web pages for our staff on a range of topics, including LGBTQ+, menstruation, neurodiversity and cancer support.
Recently I’ve undertaken my ‘Met Office Expedition’, shadowing colleagues within different teams across the office to learn about their role and typical working day. I’ve spent time with the Press Office, Supercomputer Team, Library and Archives, and Project Management, just to name a few. The Chief People Officer and Chief Finance Officers from the Met Office Executive Team even took part in my apprenticeship assessment. Working with different colleagues enabled me to view the Met Office through a more holistic lens, seeing how we’re all linked via our purpose to ‘help people stay safe and thrive’.
I’ve attended college once a week to gain my Level 3 CIPD HR Support qualification. My line manager and team have really encouraged me to get the most out of my time with the Met Office.
The Met Office is a very supportive environment to learn and grow in. By saying yes to opportunities, I’ve learnt more than I could have imagined from colleagues across the organisation.
Doing an apprenticeship with the Met Office is one of the best decisions I’ve made. The Met Office has pushed me and nurtured me to grow as an employee and a person, allowing me to thrive. I’ve cultivated a deep passion for my work and developed skills for life.
This article was published in March 2024