Apprenticeship Week: Rebecca Namasivayam

Hello, my name is Rebecca Namasivayam, and I have been working at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital for 4 years. Initially my role was that of a radiology department assistant, helping out in all areas of the Imaging Department, mostly assisting radiologists doing interventional procedures.

What Apprenticeship are you currently studying and how are you finding it?

I am currently studying in a degree apprenticeship for Diagnostic Radiography. So far, I have found the course very interesting. The course has both challenged me and kept me engaged. I am learning something new every day and am refining the skills that I already had working as an assistant.

How has the apprenticeship supported your career development/progression? Your future career plans.

Initially, I thought that as an assistant, that there would not be much for me in terms of career progression. Having worked in the Imaging Department for several years, I developed a keen interest in radiography. I was introduced to the recently developed apprenticeship in diagnostic imaging and knew that this was the career path I wanted to take. Once I have completed my apprenticeship, I will be a qualified radiographer, with the hopes that I will progress further once I have more experience.

What would you say to someone wondering if an apprenticeship is right for them/for their development?

I think that an apprenticeship is a great way for train in a career while working on the job. I believe it provides you with the necessary skills and experience needed to prepare you for your job role, say compared to doing the regular degree route, where you wouldn’t have as much ‘hands-on’ experience. I would say to anyone looking to do an apprenticeship that there is lots of support and benefits from doing this kind of course, however there is a learning curve in needing to find a balance between both working and studying at the same time.