“The Youth Advisor’s Network gave me great ideas and direction for what I’d like to do in the future as well as the tools for how to make a plan to realize those goals.”
Ridhka is now in her third year of a degree apprenticeship in economics for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the UK government. She’s been an Apprentice Nation member for two years and previously participated in the Youth Advisor’s Network (YAN), a program designed to prepare young people for the workplace and help them pursue fulfilling careers.
Over several months, YAN helped Ridhka build her knowledge, skills, and confidence, both personally and professionally, guiding her toward a clearer vision for her future. In her free time, she enjoys baking, singing, and watching shows.
What challenges have you faced in making decisions for your future?
Something I struggled with was knowing whether or not university was the right option for me. I always loved academia and thought the natural path forward was university.
An apprenticeship was actually something my parents had suggested, letting me know that with an apprenticeship I wouldn’t have to pay for a degree, but rather, they’d pay me. Apprenticeships were a new concept to me at the time. My college was incredibly university-focused, so I’d had little exposure to them or understanding as to what pursuing an apprenticeship might actually look like.
How did you find the degree apprenticeship you’re currently in?
I did a lot of research! The UK government website has tons of different apprenticeships and I filtered them to my own areas of interest. I didn’t want to pursue an apprenticeship unless it was in an area I would have wanted to study at university, which made it easier for me to narrow them down.
Why did you join the Youth Advisors Network?
I joined the Youth Advisors Network at Apprentice Nation because they had such a vast amount of information on apprenticeships and other career pathways, packaged in fun and interactive ways. From reading material to videos to games and work experience days, I learned about different options available to me that I hadn’t been aware of before.
How has the Youth Advisors Network benefited you in your career?
The Youth Advisors Network has taught me how to effectively set goals for myself, practice self-reflection, and ask the right questions, along with other skills I can bring to the workplace, such as collaborating well within a team and building relationships with my peers.
My one on one sessions with an advisor helped me put my goals into perspective, and it was incredibly beneficial to have so much personalised support from an experienced professional.
YAN also provided me with a variety of networking opportunities and experiences that have helped propel me in my career. For example, my time at Lucozade gave me valuable insight into the process of creating and marketing a product.
The interactive work experience I gained through YAN, including workshops, peer sessions, and opportunities like the work experience day at Lucozade, allowed me to collaborate with a diverse group of people from various backgrounds. Their perspectives and experiences inspired me to pursue my own areas of interest.
Above all, YAN gave me great ideas and direction for what I’d like to do in the future as well as the tools for how to make a plan to realize those goals.
What are your ambitions for your future?
My future ambitions include finding a job I’m passionate about and pursuing a fulfilling career. I hope to eventually start my own business or charity focused on social impact in an area I care about.
This past summer, I participated in a program called The Sisterhood, where I developed my business idea around mental health. The program helped me bring my concept to life, learn how to pitch it to experts, and secure funding and support to realize my vision and assist others in my community. I’m really excited about this opportunity.
If you could have one music track represent your life, what would it be?
Cover me in Sunshine – Pink
Apprentice Nation is a free platform for 16-24 year olds that provides them with the tools to shape your future and develop your career skills. By signing up you will get access to free videos and events featuring UK artists such as Headie One, RAYE, Cat Burns and AJ Tracey.
You can then earn credits to unlock rewards including exclusive mentor sessions.
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