Learning at Work Week 2026 – Meet Darcie Humphries

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 Darcie Humphries, a Junior Business Administrator at Carbonxge.

Question 1 – What made you decide to take on an Apprenticeship rather than another route into the role?
Before starting, I was working part-time and had just finished college in June 2024 where I studied Business and Accounting. I knew University wasn’t what I wanted to do; I wanted to find an Apprenticeship to gain experience in the workplace while enhancing my skills and constantly learning new things.

Question 2 – What were you hoping to get out of the Apprenticeship when you started?
I was hoping to develop new skills and was keen to learn how I could contribute to Carbonxgen as an apprentice. Overall, I wanted to complete my qualification at a high standard to achieve a high grade.

Question 3 – Were there any nerves or doubts going in?
I was extremely nervous for my interview as I really wanted the position, and the nerves came back on my first day as “the new person”. I initially had doubts about whether I was capable of carrying out the tasks since I had no previous experience, but the welcoming team and the training put in place quickly put me at ease.

Question 4 – What is something you have learned through your Apprenticeship that you have actually used at work?
I have learned the importance of organisation and time management. I’ve learned how to stay organised by prioritising my workload to ensure I meet short deadlines. Using these skills in real work situations has made me much more confident in managing my workload independently.

Question 5 – Has there been a moment where something “clicked”?
Around the 5-month mark, I received feedback that I needed to be more proactive. It “clicked” that I needed to use my Outlook calendar and planner to diary in tasks rather than just trying to complete everything “then and there”. This more effective way of working has helped me manage a growing workload and ensure nothing gets missed.

Question 6 – How do you fit learning around your day job?
I manage to fit my learning around my day job by taking one day a week—usually a Friday—to focus entirely on my coursework or extra learning. I also complete work on other days whenever I find the time.
Question 7 – What is the most useful support you have had?
My tutor, Gail Velasquez, was amazing and supportive with the learning aspects and assignments. My team at Carbonxgen has also been incredible; my manager provides regular reviews to discuss my goals, and my mentor gave me all the training I needed when I first joined.

Question 8 – What can you do now that you could not do before you started?
I can now write professional emails and communicate clearly with colleagues, clients, and suppliers. I have also learned how to raise accurate client and supplier invoices and manage stock records, which are all tasks I hadn’t done before.

Question 9 – Have you noticed a change in your confidence, your responsibilities, or how others see you at work?
I have noticed a massive change in my confidence, which everyone at Carbonxgen has noticed. Being “thrown in at the deep end” with big responsibilities pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow.

Question 10 – In one sentence, what would you say the Apprenticeship has given you?
My Apprenticeship has given me skills, confidence and a real-life experience to grow into a more professional version of myself.

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?
100% do it! It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. You gain real experience in an office environment which is so valuable and gives you a solid foundation for your future career.

Darcie Humphries
Junior Business Administrator at Carbonxge