Merry Christmas to All!
Here at Starting Off, we are taking the time to reflect on the incredible journey this year has been and what we have achieved together. We’ve had many accomplishments from our apprentices and placed many candidates in amazing job roles. It’s through our team’s hard work, passion, determination and the support of our wonderful clients that we have achieved so much!
We have placed an amazing 124 Apprentices this year followed by 91 achievers and counting… all thanks to the hard work of our Recruitment team, Lucy, Sophie, Charlotte and Debs who have each worked hard with our clients and candidates to match them with roles that best fit them.
As this year comes to a close we would love to take the opportunity to share with you all our achievements this year and what we’ve been up to!
January
At the beginning of the year, our Managing Director, Katie Goodall, was invited to appear on Nishi Patel’s podcast ‘Unrelenting Drive’. During the podcast, Katie discussed Starting Off’s journey as a company, as well as her own personal journey in becoming part of the team. They also talked about our company’s specialities, what we offer, and touched on the importance of having a strong work ethic. Watch the episode here:
Starting Off also launched its very own private training division in January: S.O. Private Training. This division offers completely bespoke training tailored to ignite ambition in candidates. We provide private training for bespoke IT skills training, Team Leader Level 3, AAT Levels 2-4, and Operational/Departmental Management Level 5. This option is perfect for individuals who want to work at their own pace or are looking for a career change.
February
We participated in National Apprenticeship Week in February. As part of the event, we organised a workshop with the theme ‘Skills for Life’. During the workshop, we discussed new job roles and the essential skills and behaviours required for success in a work environment. With the 2024 week fast approaching now, we’re looking forward to celebrating apprenticeships again very soon…
April
In April, we played an April Fools’ prank on our followers! Did you fall for it?
In April, we celebrated with our lovely Functional Skills Leader, Chloe, due to our pass rates being higher than the global average for English exam results. At Starting Off, we offer Functional Skills training to any candidates who require this support. This training is provided alongside their qualification.
May
In May, Charlotte, our very own Recruitment Team Leader, was promoted to head our S.O. Permanent Recruitment division. At Starting Off, we don’t just specialise in apprenticeships; we also help candidates secure permanent job roles, Charlotte looks after this service and can offer expert advice. Read more about it HERE.
In May our sponsored team, Corby Kingswood FC won the semi-final in the Weetabix league cup. The team played brilliantly being underdogs as a Division 2 team facing a Division 1 team. We wish them all the best for upcoming games in 2024!
We also had our quarterly meeting and annual award ceremony with the entire Starting Off team in May. This year, the Liz Ralph’s ‘Players’ Player’ award was given to Sarah Robinson for the outstanding commitment and support she offers to her learners and colleagues. Charlotte Berridge also received this year’s Special Recognition award for her enthusiasm for the business and success in her new role as Recruitment Team Leader.
July
In July we celebrated Katie at her baby shower, special thanks to Jess and Charlotte for organising, we all had a great time celebrating and couldn’t wait to meet our newest and youngest member of the Starting Off team.
August
In August, our amazing Recruitment Team Leader, Charlotte, passed her Diploma for Managers qualification. This qualification helped her to develop various skills such as supporting, managing, and developing team members, and building internal and external relationships. Congratulations, Charlotte!
We also welcomed our youngest team member at Starting Off in August; little Harper-Rose Goodall. Congratulations, Katie and family, she is perfect.
October
In October we welcomed Molly to the Starting Off team. Molly completed her Business Administration Level 3 qualification alongside Functional Skills Maths with us here at Starting Off and loved it! Molly now delivers the course to her own learners and is enjoying every aspect of being at Starting Off! Good luck Molly, we wish you success in your new role with us!
In October, we were also invited to support the Life Skills programme at Northampton Town Football Club which we were honoured to be a part of. This was set up to help prepare players with life skills and develop their performance on the pitch.
November
In November the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards was held. Three of the five finalists were all apprentices completing their training with us; Ophelia at Lunaz, Ruby at dbfb Communications and Abi at J Sweeney Accountants who won the Apprentice of the Year 2023 title!
December
In December we asked our lovely Starting Off team to share with us their highlights and achievements at Starting Off this year.
Sarah Chisnall – Digital Marketing Trainer
One of my highlights of the year was the annual all-staff meeting; it is always lovely to see everyone together and celebrate our achievements, and even better to have been part of the fastest team to complete the escape room (for the second year in a row)… The Digital Marketing course has had some great highlights this year too, two of the Apprentice of the Year finalists in the Northamptonshire Business Awards were Digital Marketing learners! I also completed my own Level 7 Digital Marketing course last month and achieved a Merit which I am really pleased with!
Rachel – Claims Administrator
My highlight of 2023 was attending careers events with Sophie and Mikaela. These were great opportunities to meet and speak to some young people about their future plans and offer them insight as to what an apprenticeship can offer them. It was a bonus that one of the events was held at my old school; so many good memories and great to see the school still flourishing.
Sarah Robinson – Account Manager
Another fabulous year with Starting Off. One of my highlights has to be one of my learners being crowned Apprentice of the Year in the Northamptonshire Business Awards, that’s 2 years running for me now!! Another great achievement was winning the Starting Off ‘Liz Ralph’s Players Player Award 2023’, it was so wonderful to have been nominated by so many of my colleagues.
Charlotte Berridge – Recruitment Team Leader
This year I am proud of completing my Level 3 Diploma for Managers, this has opened many opportunities for me and I have gained great knowledge from it. Another highlight of mine this year was launching the S.O. Permanent Recruitment division.
Lucy Harris – Recruitment Consultant
It has been another fab year with team Starting Off! Attending networking events has been a main highlight of mine as I enjoy catching up with current clients and building new client relationships, I even got to meet the one and only Frank Bruno at the Northampton Chambers Exhibition which was very exciting!
Lisa White – Assessor Trainer & Deputy Safeguarding Lead
I’d say my biggest highlight this year was getting two of my Business Administration Apprentices and one of my AAT3 Apprentices completed and into Gateway early! One of them finished all of their tasks in only 8 months! I am very proud of them, to say the least. I also very much enjoy visiting the office for team meetings – it allows us to all get together and see one another considering we work from home the majority of the time.
Deb Mapson – Recruitment Administrator
My highlight for this year was that I had the amazing opportunity to deliver some bags of food to the Corby Food Bank on behalf of Starting Off! It was amazing to provide for people who really needed it.
Molly Noble – Trainee Assessor/Recruiter
Completing my Business Administration Level 3 apprenticeship alongside my Functional Skills Maths with Starting Off was one of the highlights of this year. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the support provided by Lisa and Chloe throughout. After completing the course, I felt the need for a new challenge and decided to apply for a role with Starting Off. I am now a part of the team looking after my own learners and have enjoyed getting to know the other members of staff whilst being on the other side to an apprenticeship.
Hannah Corby – Quality Assurance Manager
My highlight of this year at Starting Off is that we achieved an overall achievement rate of 65%. This is such a huge achievement and is down to the hard work and commitment of all members of staff. I am very proud that we have been able to achieve this.
Chloe Edwards – Examinations Lead and Training Coordinator
2023 has been a busy year, picking some of my favourite highlights was a task in itself. One achievement I am proud of is our 100% first-time pass rate for Functional Skills English, including both Reading and Writing. These results include several learners with Special Educational Needs. After working with these learners 1-2-1, I am very proud to have helped support them to achieve this qualification.
A key focus of mine this year has been the continuation of our additional training. Something we strive to provide for each learner on all of our qualifications. Promoting training and information on things outside of their qualifications helps build our learner’s confidence and awareness of key topics. This has included some fantastically received workshops, presented by experts on: mental health, Prevent and transferrable skills. Not to forget our upcoming workshop on the fundamentals of driver safety!
Jordan Banks – Development Manager
One of the highlights for me this year is Starting Off being selected to participate in the Functional Skills flexibility pilot. This gives us the authority to consider other forms of evidence when determining flexibilities on functional skills requirements for learners. We are now able to offer apprenticeships to those who may be put off because they feel unable to achieve the required English and maths but do not have officially diagnosed special education needs that would otherwise exempt them. The application was approved based on a score given to our proposals on how we would implement, manage and monitor the pilot and is testimony to the quality of our delivery and our values in supporting everyone in apprenticeships.
Helen Deacon – AAT Programme Manager
I am proud of how the whole AAT team has worked together this year to fully implement the new AAT Q2022 standards and the new Level 3 Accounting Apprenticeship Standard. This has meant input from everyone involved with the programme from tutors developing new resources to Account Managers adapting to the new timetables and developing new ways of helping learners build their portfolios. Our continual improvement across the board was born out by really good results from our annual AAT survey where we saw improved scores on every single aspect the learners were questioned about.
Sophie Charalambous – Recruitment Consultant
One of my main highlights this year working at Starting Off has been completing the REC Level 3 Certificate in Recruitment Practise and achieving a Merit! This course grew my knowledge in many different aspects of recruitment, and it was a great opportunity to be able to complete this. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this year at Starting Off and I am looking forward to what the New Year will bring!
Nikki Gallagher – Training Team Leader
My favourite highlight of the year is guiding learners through their apprenticeship training. At the end of their course, they have to sit an exam involving a portfolio of evidence interview followed by a project presentation. Once completed, I get to call my learners and give them their results. It is lovely to be able to share this moment with them.
Katie Goodall – Managing Director
My highlight of the year has to be the Starting Off Christmas party! After having a baby in August this was my first proper night out and it did not disappoint! From the wicker reindeer to wearing the chair decorations as headbands… much fun was had by all!! There were a few sore heads the next day, however.
Mikaela Groves – Account Manager
My biggest highlight for this would be completing my CAVA training and becoming a qualified assessor. Also starting to work with BSH, having the site visits and getting to know the learners on a more personal level has been great.
Jess Cameron – Managing Director
It’s really difficult for me to give just one highlight of the year. 2023 has been a great year for the Starting Off team, from staff promotions, the launch of new divisions, introductions of new qualifications, and staff qualification achievements. We have also seen a huge improvement in the quality of our delivery across all departments and the working relationships between all departments has supported us to build an even stronger team. Following a successful Christmas party this year our Quality Assurance Manager’s husband said to me ‘What an amazing team you have at Starting Off, it’s been an absolute pleasure to meet them all, Starting Off is very lucky’ and I really do agree with that…. I’m looking forward to all we can achieve in 2024!
