Growing Together: Meet Our Apprentices This National Apprenticeship Week

This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re shining a light on something we’re incredibly proud of at Hartford Care, our commitment to growing and developing the people who make our business so special.

Across our business, we have team members at every stage of their career journey, from those just starting out in care to experienced professionals taking on leadership qualifications. What unites them all is a genuine passion for making a difference in residents’ lives, combined with a desire to keep learning and growing.

We sat down with some of our apprentices to hear about their experiences, what they love about working in care, and how their apprenticeships are helping them develop.

Melissa Ravizza, West Cliff

Level 2 Adult Care – Completed with Distinction

My time at Hartford Care has been great. I have been here nearly nine years and I thoroughly enjoy working for the company. I started off doing bank days, bank nights, and now I’m on permanent Friday nights and school hours when needed.

Hartford Care supports staff to progress in their career through apprenticeships and in-house learning.

I enjoy working for Hartford Care as every day is different, there is not one day the same. I enjoy making a positive impact on people’s lives, listening attentively and supporting our residents with anything they need through choice and supporting their independence. Our residents have such varied backgrounds and it’s lovely to hear about their lives and the stories they have to tell.

My apprenticeship is supporting my development as it brings me more confidence in my job role. For example, it helps with teamwork and communication in the workplace, not only with colleagues but also with the residents and the different challenges that may arise. It helped me to gain in-depth knowledge within the industry throughout the units in the apprenticeship. It has also inspired me to progress in my job role, taking on other responsibilities I wouldn’t have done otherwise.

Helen Jupe, Inver House

Level 4 Lead Practitioner in Care 

What I enjoy about working for Hartford Care is the responsibility, respect and the duty of care to all the residents. I enjoy the variety of work, and I learn something new every day. The team that we’ve got at our home is fantastic all work together and support each other. It’s more like a big family.

I especially enjoy supporting residents with challenging behaviour. I love seeing the outcome when working with other agencies to help someone coming into the care environment, watching as their behaviour changes and they start to feel safe and cared for. What I enjoy most is supervising on the dementia units as I feel this is my strongest area.

Hartford Care is a very good organisation to work for, considering current times. We recently had our home redecorated for the first time in about 15 years. The care we provide is catered to all, we have different age groups across our residents so the care we provide is tailored to the individual residents complex needs, especially challenging behaviour. The business have supported me to go from a carer to a supervisor and given me strength in my role. They give proper training annually and in specified areas that you’re interested in.

I’ve recently finished my Level 4. I did this to consolidate my knowledge and get a formal qualification, so that I could prove to myself and that I have the skills to do my role, and with the aim of progressing my career within the organisation. The Level 4 made me realise that, at 50, I still have the skills to organise my time and complete my studies whilst it is very busy at work. It’s giving me confidence in my role and helping me harness information and knowledge so I understand things like safeguarding and other interesting areas that I’ve never been involved in before.

Lucia Fernandez, Learning & Development Manager

Level 5 Digital Learning Design

I’ve found my time at Hartford Care genuinely rewarding and full of opportunities to develop my practice. Going from 17 homes to 45 has been an awesome challenge and has given me the opportunity to explore new ideas, take ownership of projects, and challenge myself professionally. There’s space here to innovate and try new approaches, especially within learning and development, which has allowed me to really step into my role and evolve alongside the organisation.

What I enjoy most is connecting with the teams through teaching, investing time in the homes, and creating good learning environments. I love seeing how good training and thoughtful design can support staff confidence and ultimately improve care. I also value how we create communities and celebrate individuality from the Learning and Development team, with the chance to work across different teams, which keeps my job varied, creative, and meaningful, which is so important to me.

My Level 5 in Digital Learning Design has been incredibly energising for me. I genuinely love the process of designing and delivering training, and those on my sessions know it! I love thinking about learning experience, accessibility, engagement, and how people learn in practice. The apprenticeship has given me both structure and creative freedom, helping me deepen my skills while also shaping my professional identity as a learning designer.

Hopefully, in time, people will feel the impact of my training through better, meaningful, and transformative eLearning that feels less like a duty and more like a good experience.

Lilly McNeil, Marketing

Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketer 

I’m really enjoying my time at Hartford Care so far. As a Marketing Apprentice, it’s been great to gain hands on experience while learning more about the care sector. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and supportive and I’ve had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of projects, from creating content to helping showcase the amazing work happening across our homes. 

What I enjoy most about working at Hartford Care is knowing that the work I do has a real purpose. Even from a marketing perspective, I can see how sharing stories, updating websites and creating content helps families make important decisions about care for their loved ones. 

I also really value the supportive atmosphere across the company. Everyone is approachable and willing to help, which has made settling into my apprenticeship much easier. Being able to collaborate with different teams and visit the homes to see the positive impact they have on residents makes the role feel meaningful and rewarding every day. 

My apprenticeship is playing a huge role in supporting my development, both professionally and personally. It’s giving me the opportunity to gain real, hands-on experience while also building a strong foundation of marketing knowledge. I’m developing practical skills such as content creation, campaign planning, analytics and communication, while also improving my confidence, time management and ability to work independently and with a team. Having the chance to apply what I learn directly into my day-to-day role makes the experience much more valuable and I’m excited to continue developing my skills as part of the Hartford Care team. 

Growing Careers in Care

At Hartford Care, we believe that investing in our people means investing in the quality of care our residents receive. Whether someone is just starting their career or stepping into leadership, we’re committed to supporting their growth every step of the way.

Our apprenticeship programmes offer:

Interested in joining our team? We’re always looking for caring, compassionate people who want to make a difference. Visit our careers page to see current opportunities.

View Our Careers