At the Local Government Apprentice of the Year event, there are a few of different awards on offer to apprentices. These include Apprentice of the Year and the social media winner. However, the judges are not just looking at each apprentice individually but are also assessing how well individuals are working together in order to award their ‘best overall team’.
Inioluwa Ajayi from Braintree District Council chose to undertake the level 3 Data and Business Insight apprenticeship to gain real world experience while continuing to learn and develop professionally. She was drawn to working in local government to contribute to meaningful projects that have a direct impact on the community.
Despite only being just over 2 months into her apprenticeship, Inioluwa chose to challenge herself further by taking part in the Local Government Apprentice of the Year 2025 event - a decision that paid off as she was a member of the winning team!
As the ability to make a positive impact on local communities was one of the reasons that Inioluwa wanted to work in local government, it is therefore no surprise that a key reason she wanted to attend the event was to help her gain a deeper understanding of the wider issues within local government, including how different councils approach key issues, especially housing.On the day of the event Inioluwa deepened her understanding of housing
“The most rewarding part was collaborating with apprentices from different councils during the team challenge. It was inspiring to see how quickly we could come together, share ideas, and create a solution under pressure. It really highlighted the power of teamwork and diverse perspectives”
Inioluwa also chose to take part in the event to connect with other apprentices from across the country. With over 70 apprentices in attendance on the day the event certainly provided ample opportunity for networking and supported her desire to gain an understanding of local government issues, hearing and analysing issues from different team member viewpoints.
,I spoke with apprentices from different councils and job roles. It was really helpful to hear about their experiences and career paths. I gained new perspectives and even picked up a few tips on how to make the most of my apprenticeship”
Since the event, Inioluwa has reflected on some of the things she took away from it, such as gaining a broader understanding of local government issues, the importance of collaboration and she has gained confidence in her own voice.
“The most rewarding part was collaborating with apprentices from different councils during the team challenge. It was inspiring to see how quickly we could come together, share ideas, and create a solution under pressure. It really highlighted the power of teamwork and diverse perspectives”
As she now looks to the future, Inioluwa explains that she is already applying
a more strategic outlook to her work and has been sharing insights from the event with her colleagues. She feels that attending the event boosted her confidence, improved her
teamwork and communication skills, gave her a clearer sense of how she can grow within local government whilst also expanding her network. All of which she hopes will open doors for future collaboration and career development.