This week, we invite you to get acquainted with Casey Beck, Skills Coach at Aspire! Join us in exploring Casey’s role, experiences and Casey’s passion for supporting learners.
What is your background?
After completing my university studies, I commenced my career in secondary education as a Teaching Assistant, focusing primarily on supporting students with Special Educational Needs. After two years in this role, I advanced to a pastoral position as Head of Year. In this capacity, I managed a cohort of students, starting with Year 7 and eventually progressing to Year 11. My responsibilities included overseeing attendance, attainment, safeguarding, and behaviour within the year group. Additionally, I provided line management to a group of form tutors to ensure the highest standard of pastoral care for my cohort.
How did you fall into Skills Coaching and the role you are in now?
My transition into Skills Coaching and my current role evolved after relocating to Manchester in 2022. While I wanted to remain within the education sector to continue supporting learners in achieving their goals, I was ready to shift away from secondary education. This led me to explore Further Education (FE), specifically apprenticeships, where I discovered Skills Coaching. Initially, I worked as a Skills Coach for a large organisation primarily delivering accountancy apprenticeships. This experience equipped me with the fundamentals of understanding apprenticeships, the associated rules and regulations, and how to support adult learners, which differed significantly from my previous work with secondary-aged children. Subsequently, upon seeing a Skills Coach vacancy at Aspire, I aimed to apply my knowledge and experience to support Aspire apprentices and contribute to the growth of the business.
What does your role involve?
In my role as a Skills Coach, I undertake a variety of tasks. Generally, I support learners throughout their apprenticeship, conducting progress reviews, marking and providing developmental feedback on submitted work, preparing them for End Point Assessment (EPA) and guiding them through the EPA process. Collaborating closely with employers is a crucial aspect of ensuring our position as the preferred training provider, achieved through establishing and maintaining strong relationships with our clients.
What does a typical day consist of in your role?
A typical day for me involves conducting progress reviews with learners, addressing outcomes from these meetings, marking work submitted via Bud, and handling any ad hoc queries from learners or the wider Aspire team.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The most enjoyable aspect of this role is speaking with the learners either via progress reviews or just general check ins. I am people person, I enjoy supporting others to achieve their goals, which is why I love being a Skills Coach. More recently, I have been visiting some our the learners at their places of work, which has been a real highlight for me.
For those considering an apprenticeship in procurement and supply, my advice is to ensure a thorough understanding of what it entails, such as the additional work required beyond exams to meet the apprenticeship standards. Ensure that this workload is manageable alongside your current commitments. While apprenticeships offer an excellent opportunity for professional development and career advancement, be prepared to invest time and effort in learning and skill development. Stay proactive, ask questions, seek feedback from Tutors and Skills Coaches, embrace challenges as learning opportunities, and maintain a positive attitude throughout your apprenticeship journey.
Whether you are a prospective learner or an employer seeking to engage with our apprenticeship programs, we welcome you to reach out and learn more. Contact us today to discover how Aspire can support your aspirations in procurement and supply.
