NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK 2025: Rebecca lets her hair down for apprenticeship opportunity

“The support here is really important and has been critical to my development”

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2025, it’s an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the power of apprenticeships and the role they play in shaping the future workforce at Franks Portlock. 

Their skills, dedication and achievements are making an important impact on the various sectors of our environmental consultancy. By investing in apprenticeships, we believe we are cultivating the next generation of talent, ensuring a pipeline of skilled professionals who can tackle the environmental challenges of tomorrow. 

One of those employees, now approaching the end of her apprenticeship programme at Franks Portlock is Rebecca Carter, from Sunderland, who has been training as a bulk analyst for the past year. 

Rebecca’s role consists of preparing and analysing materials for asbestos content, database management, creating reports for clients, as well as assisting the lab supervisor. 

“Attention to detail is key in my role,” explains Rebecca, who joined the company in December 2023, after deciding that the Level 1 Hairdressing qualification she was studying towards at college wasn’t quite the right fit for her.  

“I decided to explore other career options and found this apprenticeship opportunity online and applied through the company’s website. The process was straightforward, and I was excited by the new challenge. 

“The role is going really well. It is hard work but definitely rewarding. I’ve had the chance to work with different people across the company. The teamwork and support here is really important and has been critical to my development.”

Of the key skills Rebecca has developed over the course of her apprenticeship, it’s her analytical ability, especially when analysing data and samples, where she has seen the most improvement. 

She adds: “I’ve also learned to be more organised and efficient in my work, which has really helped me in the lab. 

“A big example is being able to identify the different types of asbestos. This was something I learned during my training and was able to apply directly when analysing certain samples at work. It was great to see how my learning came to life in a real-world setting.” 

This year’s NAW theme is ‘Skills for Life’, and Rebecca’s says her long-term ambitions are to have a “solid career” in the field of environmental analysis, adding: “My apprenticeship has been instrumental in helping me build the skills I need to do this. I’m gaining both practical experience and qualifications, which will set me up for a career in the industry.” 

Would Rebecca recommend an apprenticeship to others considering their options? 

“The benefits of an apprenticeship are huge,” she says. “Not only do you gain hands-on experience, but you also get the chance to earn while you learn.  

“In my case, I’m working toward a P401 qualification and setting myself up for a career that could last a lifetime.”