One of this year’s Local Government Apprentice of the Year runners up is Katy Howlett, a level 3 Business Administrator apprentice at Plymouth City Council who began her journey into local government just eight months ago, when she secured an apprenticeship at The Box, Plymouth.
One of this year’s Local Government Apprentice of the Year runners up is Katy Howlett, a level 3 Business Administrator apprentice at Plymouth City Council who began her journey into local government just eight months ago, when she secured an apprenticeship at The Box, Plymouth. With a background in art, photography, media and history, her apprenticeship role brought together her passions whilst also providing the hands-on experience that she was looking for. When her line manager encouraged her to attend the Local Government Apprentice of the Year event, she saw it as an opportunity to grow, particularly in confidence and communication. Entering the event, she felt nervous, inquisitive and excited, stepping into an environment outside her usual routine.
The start of day one pushed her out of her comfort zone, particularly during the initial icebreaker. However, as the day progressed, through collaborative activities, she began to find her voice, contributing ideas and drawing on her creativity.
Katy has recalled how the highlight of the day was designing communications materials, where she could combine her creative strengths with teamwork to produce polished outputs. However, it was the main challenge of the day which proved especially valuable. It encouraged her to think more deeply about innovation in local government and exposed her to different perspectives from apprentices across the country.
I think first and foremost it is incredibly important to make sure people, community and staff are happy, without them there would ultimately be no need for councils. I think it was great to prioritise them and think of ways in which we can do tha
The importance of innovation was further reinforced by one of the guest speakers at the event, Catherine Howe, Chief Executive of Dorset Council. She highlighted the significant value that apprentices bring to local government, noting their ability to offer fresh perspectives on the needs of a modern, evolving society. Catherine also emphasised that the skills developed through apprenticeships equip individuals strongly for the future - particularly at a time when local government must rethink its direction, as traditional skillsets alone may not be sufficient for future success. She encouraged apprentices to take pride in their commitment to personal and professional development, while also remaining curious, ambitious, and open to continuous learning
For Katy, day two of the event brought celebration and reflection. She arrived excited to support others, never expecting to win anything herself so when she was announced as runner-up, the moment came as a complete surprise, leaving her feeling both humbled and proud - proof that stepping forward, even with uncertainty, can lead to unexpected success. Katy has recalled how since attending the event, she has already felt an increase in her confidence, communication and willingness to contribute. Returning to the workplace, she feels more assured in her abilities, more visible within the organisation, and motivated to continue developing her skills. Katy’s next steps are to complete her apprenticeship and explore opportunities across different departments within the council, broadening her experience and continuing to
grow. She hopes that the recognition she received will not only strengthen her CV but will also increase her profile within the organisation, opening doors for future development.
“Looking ahead, I’m excited to take my newfound confidence and implement it into my job working for local government. I will not forget the memories made and ideas discussed with my team.” Katy Howlett, level 3 Business Administrator apprentice at
Plymouth City Council.
Reflecting on her attendance at the event, she describes how her experience highlights a powerful takeaway which is that sometimes the biggest growth comes from simply throwing yourself into something new.
you won’t regret taking part, but you might regret missing out on the opportunity