Background and role
Emily has been working at Educ8 Training for nine years. After two years in her original role, she began contributing to the company’s Green Dragon environmental certification initiative. Today, she collaborates with all departments to deliver the Green Action Plan, reducing business travel, lowering energy usage, and strengthening community engagement.
Career and study journey
Emily first joined Educ8 Training on a short contract to support employability projects while she was at university. After graduating, she transitioned into an HR administration role and eventually progressed into a lead position.
In parallel with her job, Emily has pursued continuous professional development. Over the past nine years, she has completed seven qualifications with Educ8 Training, including:
- Level 3 Business Administration
- Level 4 Advice & Guidance
- Level 4 Business Administration
- Level 4 Management
- Level 3 Energy
…among others.
Why she started the apprenticeship
Emily undertook the energy apprenticeship because she wanted to deepen her understanding of environmental impact and support Educ8 Training’s Net Zero by 2050 ambitions. Through the qualification, she gained the ability to evaluate and analyse the company’s carbon footprint, enabling her to provide robust support to senior leadership (SLT) and directors as they drive environmental change.
Learning experience and assessment
She was assessed through regular sessions with her trainer-coach, Suzanne Evans, who Emily describes as “amazing.” Their sessions were highly collaborative brainstorming, problem-solving, and planning environmental strategies together. This hands-on mentoring was instrumental in helping Emily internalise the theory and apply it to real work.
Balancing work, study and company support
Balancing coursework alongside her full-time role was made possible thanks to strong support from her manager. When Emily encountered challenging topics, her manager helped her navigate them and apply new learning to Educ8 Training’s Green Dragon certification process.
Beyond her immediate team, the broader company also supported her ambition to drive sustainability. This alignment between her apprenticeship and her workplace responsibilities made her learning relevant and impactful.
Impact and outcomes
- Strategic influence: Emily now advises SLT and directors on environmental decisions, using insights from her apprenticeship.
- Tangible changes: She has helped implement new energy-saving measures and reduce business miles in line with the Green Action Plan.
- Certification support: Her work has strengthened Educ8 Training’s Green Dragon certification.
- Professional growth: The apprenticeship sharpened her analytical skills and deepened her confidence as a sustainability leader.
Why Emily recommends doing an apprenticeship with Educ8 Training.
“I would 100% recommend an apprenticeship with Educ8 Training. I have learned more at work every day through my qualification than I did during my degree. The practical application of learning made a real difference to my role and to the company.”
Learn more or get started: Energy and Carbon Management – Educ8
