Kimberley Dean
Age: 29
Trade: Business Administrator
Borough: Camden
Apprenticeship: Level 2 Business Administration
Background: Before starting with K10, Kimberley was on income support and unemployed with a child. As her son had just turned two years and started nursery, she felt then would be the ideal time to start looking for a job. However, as she didn’t have the qualifications to get into a role that would lead to a career, she decided her best option was to do an apprenticeship.
During the Apprenticeship: ‘The most positive part of my apprenticeship was the prospect of getting taken on in full time employment after completing. Knowing that this was a likely opportunity, it encouraged me to do my best and work harder. I had never worked in the construction environment before or even an office environment so it was a whole new learning curve for me and I was learning it all from scratch. This put me out of my comfort zone but this made it enjoyable at the same time.’
Kimberley was placed on site in her home borough of Camden with Brookfield. We asked her about her experience with them and she said ‘I had an amazing time working on site with Brookfield. I have gone strength to strength; when I first started I didn’t have an extensive amount of experience or knowledge. I also gained a lot of confidence in myself as I was out of work for a long time before. Now I have been taken on direct, I am now managing one of the projects and there is a plan in place for me to run a small office in January to be placed as an office manager is six to eight months’ time independently. When I first started, I was contemplating to stop doing the apprenticeship, but I persevered and it all paid off in the end. If I did stop, I would not be where I am now. Peter, my Apprenticeship Manager was brilliant. If I ever needed him, whether it was a question or just a piece of advice, he never turned me away, he was always there supporting me through my apprenticeship. K10 has changed my life if I’m honest, they have given me the confidence to move forward and further my career. It was an absolutely amazing opportunity; I wouldn’t knock it and would suggest anyone who gets the opportunity to grab it with both hands.’
After the Apprenticeship: Since completing her apprenticeship, Kimberley has been taken on direct by Multiplex and is still on the site she started on as an Office Administrator working part-time until her son starts school on £15,000 a year.
