Tiffany Pedley is a Degree Apprentice with Oxford-based global market research company Nielsen. Tiffany has attended many events as an Apprenticeship Ambassador, including attending Future Fest at her former school Lord Williams's School in Thame, to talk to students and parents about her experience as an Apprentice.

As we celebrate Volunteers Week 2019 this week (1-7 June), Tiffany explains why it's so rewarding to be able to share her experiences with students. 

Tiffany says: "Being an Apprenticeship Ambassador means that I am able to demonstrate that there are alternative routes to university. When going to schools and talking about my Apprenticeship, I always tell students that I didn’t have a clue about Level 6 degree Apprenticeships before walking around at a careers fair when I was in year 13! Without having a look around and talking to different business I wouldn’t be doing what I am today. If I wasn’t doing an Apprenticeship, I would be at university getting little to no experience in the workplace and accumulating debt for something that I can do as an Apprenticeship and get paid for with the added extra of experience. 

I find it very rewarding to be in a position where I can speak to students about my experience as an Apprentice and offer advice to them if they are unsure whether to go to university, an Apprenticeship or go straight into work – because I was in that position 2 years ago and would’ve loved someone to explain the different options I had and what an Apprenticeship really is. As an ambassador, not only have I been able to share my experience with others, I have been able to network across different businesses and build relationships as well as develop the fundamental skills I already had."

If you're interested in getting involved in our work with schools, or becoming an Apprenticeship Amabssador, please email skills@oxfordshirelep.com to find out more.