{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"Arvinda Lalli talks through his placement on the very first of its kind \u2013 a Social Change apprenticeship, launched in 2019.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/12782/linkedin_-1.jpeg","width":552,"height":559,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EEmbarking on this programme almost a year and a half ago has been fruitful in many ways. Being exposed to different areas within the operational realm of Scouting has enabled me to appreciate how all these different aspects work in great synergy to provide young people with the opportunity to develop skills that will last a lifetime. Having a blend of university learning and on-the-job working has also been an intellectually stimulating experience. Currently, I\u2019m undergoing modules that include responsible leadership, corporate social responsibility and regulatory environment.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe main essence of the Social Change degree apprenticeship is to help increase diversity, inclusion and equality amongst management within the charity sector. As a Sikh, these qualities are one of the focal points of our belief. Regardless of colour, creed, background or gender, all should be treated as one. Having the ability to build a career based on these values is a phenomenal opportunity and one that I\u2019m very fortunate to be a part of.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative embraced its first cohort of students in September 2019, which I was grateful to be a part of. The typical week, during university term, would consist of two days solely dedicated to university learning. Pre-pandemic, we would\u2019ve attended lectures on campus at Queen Mary University of London but since the pandemic, all university learning has been moved online. The remaining three days of the weekday would be used for my time working with Scouts on a full-time basis.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMy first rotation put me in the Communications and Marketing team, where I learnt the procedures and methods of communicating with our young members and adult volunteers \u2013 to keep them up-to-date \u2013 and partners and MPs, to help build working relationships around the values of Scouts. My next placement was in the Governance team. It offered a rare opportunity to meet the Board of Trustees and Team UK members \u2013 these altruistic individuals offer time and expertise for the Scouts movement to prosper.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn October 2020, to present day, I\u2019ve been exposed to the Commercial directory of Scouts, a powerhouse of income generation that\u2019s purely used to reinvest back into the movement. Spending time in Scouts Store, Conferencing, Unity Insurance Services and now currently in Scout Adventures has widened my understanding of how these different departments operate uniquely to create a sustainable platform for Scouts to thrive, as demonstrated by the resilience shown during the pandemic.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBeing on the course has helped me not only develop my understanding of Scouts, but also with my personal development. At the start of the programme, balancing university and work was difficult; however, with practice and with sufficient organisation, the issue of time management began to dissolve. Even now it isn\u2019t perfect, but it\u2019s definitely a step up from when I first started. Likewise, I believe my communication skills have also improved through being involved with open discussions with groups of colleagues, as well as presenting research and pooling ideas across the table. All in all, I\u2019ve immensely enjoyed my first year and a half as an apprentice at Scouts. I feel as though I\u2019ve been growing throughout the months, and look forward to seeing what other skills I can gain throughout the rest of the placement.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Learn more about Scouts and employability","buttonLink":{"name":"Scouts and employability","id":null,"url":"/scouts-and-employability/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"490499","label":"490499"},"alignment":"left"},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Check out our other news this month","buttonLink":{"name":"February","id":null,"url":"/news/2021/february/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"002f6c","label":"002f6c"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"14 February 2021","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48639,"nodeName":"National Apprenticeship Week: My Social Change apprenticeship with Scouts","title":"  My Social Change apprenticeship with Scouts","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/12782/linkedin_-1.jpeg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd15e2d2a0","caption":"Linkedin (1)","type":"jpeg","size":65417,"width":552,"height":559,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"  My Social Change apprenticeship with Scouts","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Arvinda Lalli talks through his placement on the very first of its kind \u2013 a Social Change apprenticeship, launched in 2019.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODYzOSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/february/national-apprenticeship-week-my-social-change-apprenticeship-with-scouts/"}