A successful partnership between Inspire Education Group (IEG) and Hegarty Solicitors is demonstrating how collaboration between education and industry can create clear pathways into professional careers.
Through the Business Administrator Apprenticeship Standard Level 3, delivered by IEG’s Peterborough College, Abbie Cunnington has progressed into a Trainee Legal Secretary & Administrator role at Hegarty’s Stamford office - highlighting the impact of apprenticeships in developing job-ready talent.
Hegarty is an established UK law firm founded in 1974 that provides comprehensive legal services for individuals and businesses, specialising in areas such as family law, residential conveyancing, wills, trusts, and probate, employment law, corporate law, commercial property and litigation.
Now working closely with solicitors, Abbie supports key legal processes and client communications, demonstrating how apprenticeships can successfully bridge the gap between education and employment.
Reflecting on her journey, Abbie said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship, particularly the opportunity to develop practical skills during my college studies and apply them directly in my role at Hegarty. The project element was especially impactful; leading a team to deliver a project enabled me to develop key skills such as confidence, leadership, and decision-making.”
As both a Partner at Hegarty and a Governor at Inspire Education Group, Andrea Beesley-Hewitt has a unique perspective on the value of apprenticeships in bridging education and employment, saying:
“I am delighted to reflect on the success of employing a Business Apprentice at Hegarty. Abbie has been excellent from the start and is a great addition to our team. This experience has clearly demonstrated the value that apprenticeships bring, not only in developing practical skills and confidence in the individual, but also in bringing fresh ideas and a different perspective to the workplace. As a Governor at IEG, it is particularly rewarding to see firsthand how effective this has been for us as a firm and for Abbie.”
Inspire Education Group’s Employer Engagement team partners with more than 1,000 organisations to help develop and strengthen their workforce locally, regionally and nationally.
This collaboration highlights the important role that apprenticeships play in supporting local workforce development, enabling individuals to build meaningful careers while helping employers access and develop the talent they need for the future.
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