'I've had so many incredible opportunities'

In July 2022, I had just graduated from university with a degree in History and Politics. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to find a job that could develop into a career that I could enjoy for years to come.  

By chance, I came across a listing for a Government Communications Service apprenticeship, and immediately knew it’d be the perfect fit for me. During my previous studies, I had the chance to develop my planning, research, and communication skills, and starting a career in communications would give me the chance to put these skills into practice and develop them further. Having spent the last three years learning through classroom work and study, an apprenticeship would allow me to take a more practical approach to learning and give me opportunities that more traditional forms of study couldn’t.  

I completed the application and interview process with the Government Communications Service over the summer and was accepted on to the apprenticeship scheme. In November 2022, I was allocated to the Met Office and started my role as a Public Relations and Communications Apprentice within the Communications and Engagement team. Within the first few weeks working in the team, it became apparent that the Met Office truly is a great place to work. Everyone I was working with was extremely welcoming, friendly, and very keen to share their communications expertise with me to help me on my learning journey. One of the Met Office core values is ‘We’re better together’, and this is something that is so visibly embodied by all of our people. 

Once working at the Met Office, I was surprised at the sense of community here. It felt clear to me that people really care about one another. There are many special interest groups/sports clubs for people to get involved in together, with opportunities for new starters to participate in various activities and make connections across the organisation. For example, within my first week, it was recommended I join the New Starters and Early Careers Network. This group organises regular meet ups for people who are starting out in their careers at the Met Office to share tips, professional advice, and to form social connections through their various events. There really is a group for everyone here, from football teams to book clubs.  

Over the 18-month period I spent as an apprentice, I was afforded so many incredible opportunities to aid in my learning. In our team, no two days are the same, and sometimes our work can be quite dependent on what is going on in the outside world (especially the weather!), so it can be quite a fast-paced working environment. Some days I spent time meeting with colleagues to discuss campaign plans and strategy, while other days I could be focusing on creating social media content or evaluating and analysing our recent external communications.  

As part of my apprenticeship, I was given the chance to lead on one of our regular campaigns, planning, developing, and evaluating all the content for our monthly climate theme in February 2024. These themes form part of our #GetClimateReady campaign, where each month we explore a new subject within the topic of climate change, the theme I led on was forests. This allowed me to put everything I had learnt on my apprenticeship into practice and prove the skills I had developed. Working for the Met Office Communications and Engagement team is particularly rewarding as you get the sense that all the work you are doing is really making a difference, especially with our weather communications with the aim of helping the public stay safe and thrive. 

Throughout my apprenticeship, I was provided with the support I needed from my team and line manager to develop both personally and professionally. I was always able to rely on those I worked with to be an amazing resource of knowledge to help me improve my own skills.  

I would recommend doing an apprenticeship with the Met Office to anyone looking to start a new career path or further develop within their chosen sector. An apprenticeship is an especially good choice if you are someone who values the chance to apply your learning in a more practical way. As a result of the fantastic support and opportunities the Met Office provided me, I completed my apprenticeship in April 2024 after being awarded a distinction for my work.  

Since completing my apprenticeship, I was offered a permanent role working as a Communications Executive within the Media and Campaigns team. This has been fantastic for me as it has given me more time to learn from the wonderful people in my team, and shows that the work I do is valued by my colleagues. This opportunity has allowed me to apply the skills and knowledge I developed as part of my apprenticeship and continue to learn more about the communications profession. 

The Met Office as an employer shows a clear commitment to the continuous development and progression of its people, and I feel that this is an ethos that has benefited me greatly in my career journey.  

This blog was published in February 2025.