From an Apprenticeship to Contracts Officer at West Yorkshire Combined Authority

We spoke to Connor, about his role as a Contract Officer in the Economic Services Team and what life is like at West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

I’ve been with WYCA for almost a year and half joining in August 2021 as an Apprentice in the Adult Education Budget team.  My team delivers up to Level 2 maths education for adults.  As part of the apprenticeship, I supported the contract officers so applying for this position was the next step for me.

In my role as a Contract Officer, I am responsible for monitoring contracts.  This includes performance, reports, risk and supporting the contract management within my team.

What inspired you to pursue the career path you have chosen?
I moved to West Yorkshire from Kent and used to work as a delivery driver for a short period which was hard.  My girlfriend’s family member mentioned there was a position going at WYCA and that I should apply if I was looking for a more stable job.

What do you enjoy most about being part of WYCA?
I have applied to be involved in the young employee network. I think it’s great that these networks are available and that others can be created too.  With the majority of my work being from home it can be a bit isolating but, when I’m in the office I make an effort to speak to people.

The way we work has changed a lot in the past few years and we have had to adapt to it but, I enjoy the flexibility that we have to manage a good work/ life balance which is important to me and that everyone is approachable, especially with the help of technology you can speak to anyone in the organization.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?
Try and get involved in tasks even if you’re shadowing it helps with your knowledge if you come to it again. Sometimes it’s worth taking a step back career wise in the short term to put you in a better position for the long term and it’s a bit cliche but, if you want to progress don’t give up even if you’ve been knocked back a few times.

What significant obstacle have you had to overcome?
As an apprentice you’re pulled in a lot of directions and you do a lot of different tasks so if you need support or don’t understand something ask, and more importantly don’t be afraid to apply for another role while in your apprenticeship even if you’re not successful you learn a lot about yourself when in interviews.

What advice would you give to your younger self or other individuals who want to get into your field of work?
There are loads of opportunities at WYCA so, keep an eye on the vacancy page and if you feel like a position sounds like something you could do, apply for it you never know!

To learn more about West Yorkshire Combined Authority and see a ful list of vacancies please click here.