Celebrating Apprenticeship Success: Abby Found
In this blog, we hear from Abby Found, Heritage Operations Manager at Medway Council, who shares her journey of professional development through the Level 5 Operations Department Manager apprenticeship. Abby reflects on balancing leadership responsibilities, family life and study, the skills she gained along the way, and how the experience has shaped her confidence and career progression within the heritage sector.
My name is Abby Found and I'm the Heritage Operations Manager for Medway Council, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of historic visitor attractions that include Upnor Castle and Eastgate House in Rochester. My role involves leading a small team and working across a wide range of areas, from customer experience and conservation to events through to retail and weddings meaning no two days are ever the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role!
I decided to take on the Level 5 Operations/Department Manager apprenticeship with IPS International because I wanted to develop my management skills and gain experience leading staff within my team. Prior to this, I managed volunteers but wanted to build confidence and knowledge as a people manager. At the same time as starting the apprenticeship, I also took on maternity cover as Operations Manager where I managed several heritage sites alongside my existing role meaning I could apply what I was learning directly to my day job, making the experience particularly valuable.
Balancing apprenticeship work with family life, my job and the challenges of the pandemic at the time was demanding so the apprenticeship did take me longer than expected to complete. However, the programme was extremely rewarding and I particularly benefited from the self-awareness, problem-solving and coaching elements of the apprenticeship, which helped me approach challenges more confidently and effectively at work. Completing the End Point Assessment was a huge personal achievement and something I am very proud of.
Since completing the apprenticeship, I've secured a permanent Operations Manager position and feel well equipped to continue developing in my career. Graduating at Rochester Cathedral was a memorable and emotional moment and a real celebration of the hard work and commitment it took to reach the finish line.
