Learning at Work Week 2026 – Meet Chloe Wood

Learning at Work Week 2026 is all about the ‘Many Ways to Learn’. Recognising that personal and professional growth doesn’t just happen in a classroom.

Whether it is through learning by doing, coaching from a supportive tutor, or social learning with colleagues, there are so many paths to building new skills. We know that balancing a qualification with a busy job is a journey full of different experiences, so we asked some of our apprentices to share theirs. These stories highlight the various ways our learners have harnessed their own potential to grow, evolve, and succeed in their roles.

Recently we asked them to share their Apprenticeship journey, looking at the different ways they have picked up new skills and the impact this has had on their career so far.

Meet Chloe Wood, a Reward and Job Evaluation Coordinator at NHSBT.

Question 1 – What made you decide to take on an Apprenticeship rather than another route into the role?
I am doing this course alongside my current role within NHSBT. All of my previous qualifications are clinical, so I wanted to undertake more training in the career path I am now taking to gain more understanding and allow for progression within the organisation.

Question 2 – What were you hoping to get out of the Apprenticeship when you started?
The main thing I am hoping to gain is the qualification; however, I also want to build my confidence to allow me to progress into a higher banded role.

Question 3 – Were there any nerves or doubts going in?
My main concern was the End Point Assessment (EPA), specifically the interview and presentation, as that is something I have struggled with in the past.

Question 4 – What is something you have learned through your Apprenticeship that you have actually used at work?
I have learned how tools such as charts, planning processes, and tables can help a project. Being able to visually prepare for something specific—including mapping out strengths and weaknesses in one place—has given me a great resource to refer back to along the way.

Question 5 – Has there been a moment where something “clicked”?
The “click” moment for me was when the teaching sessions finished and I looked back at my completed assignments. I realized I had already started putting these theories into practice, sometimes without even realising it.

Question 6 – How do you fit learning around your day job?
I use my Teams diary to allocate study time each week, usually four hours twice a week where possible. Planning ahead this way allows me to see where I have free time and ensures my learning hours remain consistent.

Question 7 – What is the most useful support you have had?
I’ve had support from various people. My tutor, Gail Velasquez, is always just an email away and provides quick, helpful responses. My line manager is also very understanding as they recently completed a course themselves, and my entire team has been supportive over the last eight months.

Question 8 – What can you do now that you could not do before you started?
Due to my project, I can now use advanced features on Excel that I wasn’t even aware of before. I now confidently run a monthly report and supply this directly to the Head of Service.

Question 9 – Have you noticed a change in your confidence, your responsibilities, or how others see you at work?
I have definitely noticed an increase in my confidence levels at work since starting the Apprenticeship.

Question 10 – In one sentence, what would you say the Apprenticeship has given you?
A much-needed confidence boost.

Question 11 – What would you say to someone in your team or sector who is thinking about an Apprenticeship but has not taken the leap yet?
Go for it!!!

Chloe Wood
Reward and Job Evaluation Coordinator at NHSBT