To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2024 we’re shining a spotlight on incredible cohort of apprentices, from solicitor apprentices to business administration and accounts, our apprentices make up a significant part of how we train and develop our colleagues at Sweeney Miller Law.
At present, we have two colleagues undertaking the North East Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme with Northumbria University; Khushi Jan and Kira Halliday are enrolled on the 6-year course combining academic study with practice-based modules and on-the-job learning and will complete the course as fully qualified solicitors.
We have four Accounts Apprentices undertaking the Accounts or Finance Assistant Level 2 qualification:
And four Admin Apprentices and two Admin Pool Managers on the Business Administration Level 3 course:
- Alicia Nilsson
- Bina Begum
- Ellie Lawler
- Karanveer Singh
- Kitty Kilmurray
- Millie Orr
Ellie and Millie are both former Admin Apprentices who completed their Business Administration Level 2 courses before their promotions to Admin Pool Management; they both chose to continue their on-the-job learning by moving on to the Level 3 qualification.
We asked some of our apprentices how they’d found their learning journey with Sweeney Miller so far. Admin Apprentice, Alicia Nilsson, who started with the firm in May 2023, commented: “The opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge whilst on the job learning within a supportive and helpful environment is one of the main reasons that I am enjoying my apprenticeship with Sweeney Miller. Overall, completing an apprenticeship where there are support systems and assistance in place as well as a commitment to continuous improvement makes progression and development so easy.”
Solicitor Apprentice, Khushi Jan, who joined the firm in July 2022 added: “The apprenticeship has been a great experience which I have thoroughly enjoyed over the past two years. I believe going to university while working here has helped develop both my knowledge of law as well as my practical skill a lot more than just going through the normal route. I have received a lot of support from Sweeney Miller with my apprenticeship which has definitely made me progress a lot faster and made me more confident in my journey.”
With Sweeney Miller’s commitment to career progression, all apprentices, together with everyone in the firm, also have the opportunity to take part in our own bespoke in-house training programme, designed to provide school leavers and graduates with structured, vocational based learning. The programme focusses on ensuring service standards, procedures, communication skills, administration, and technical expertise, and looks to embed the core values of the firm from the start of their career at the firm.
We also have a number of former apprentices who have stayed with the firm following the completion of their course. Our Head and Deputy Head of Accounts, Jamie Hughes and Rachel Spence, both started with the firm as apprentices before progressing to their current roles. Post Completion Executive, Georgia Tribe started with the firm as a Business Administration Apprentice in 2018 before her promotion. Kierra Carr, one of the firm's Trainee Solicitors, was in one of the first batch of solicitor apprenticeships and is now doing her LPC with a view to qualifying next year.
Commenting on the impact of the apprenticeship schemes, Sweeney Miller Managing Partner, Surbhi Vedhara, said:
“The entire team at Sweeney Miller is committed to a culture of continuous improvement at the firm both in terms of achieving individual professional goals, as well as pushing the firm to be the best it can be. As part of that process, I am delighted and proud to see the progress that colleagues have each made through the apprenticeship scheme to achieve their career aspirations. As well as providing structured, vocational based learning, going through the apprenticeship route alongside their day to day work has meant they have developed essential technical skills and experience that will stay with them throughout their careers."
For career opportunities with Sweeney Miller, visit our careers pages or follow our social media channels.
National Apprenticeship Week is in its 17th year and is a week-long celebration of apprenticeships, which brings together everyone passionate about apprenticeships to celebrate the value, benefit and opportunity that they bring.
