National Apprenticeship Week 2026: Q&A with Ayat Sheikh, Responsible Business Coordinator
To mark the final day of National Apprenticeship Week, we spoke with Ayat Sheikh, who joined Forsters in 2023 as a Responsible Business Apprentice and is now our Responsible Business Coordinator. Ayat shares how the apprenticeship set her up for success, the support she received and her advice for anyone considering a business services apprenticeship.
Can you talk us through your journey from joining Forsters as a Responsible Business Apprentice to becoming the firm’s Responsible Business Coordinator?
I joined Forsters in 2023 as a Responsible Business (RB) Apprentice, which gave me the chance to learn the foundations of the firm’s charity and community, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion work through hands‑on experience. From day one, I was trusted with real responsibilities like coordinating volunteering, supporting our charity partnerships, and helping with events and reporting.
As my experience grew, I took on more ownership across different parts of our programme and, by the time I completed my apprenticeship in 2025, I’d built a solid understanding of our work. I was delighted to stay on as Responsible Business Coordinator, where I now continue to deliver and develop the firm’s RB programme day to day.
What kind of support did you receive during your apprenticeship?
I received support from so many people at Forsters as well as from my training provider, LDN Apprenticeships. My team were always generous with their time and encouraged my learning by explaining new concepts, involving me in projects and giving constructive feedback.
I had regular check‑ins with both my manager and my skills coach at LDN, which helped to connect what I was learning academically with the practicalities of my role. Apprenticeships come with a long list of criteria, so those check‑ins were useful for tracking progress and identifying areas I wanted to develop.
Beyond that, colleagues across the firm were genuinely welcoming, and our Learning & Development team were supportive too. Both I and our HR Apprentice at the time had an apprentice mentor assigned to us who we met every few months for informal guidance. That made a big difference in helping us settle in.
What were the biggest challenges you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
Balancing work with the academic side during busy periods was tough at times, but I managed it by being open with my manager and blocking out focus time when needed.
Responsible Business is broad and fast‑moving, so there were (and still are!) moments where I had to learn quickly and adapt. I asked lots of questions and reminded myself it was okay not to know everything straight away, that’s why training and continuous development exist.
How did your apprenticeship help shape your confidence, skills or understanding of responsible business work?
It was the perfect introduction to the world of Responsible Business. My confidence grew as I built relationships across the firm and saw the impact of the work we do. Now, as a Coordinator, I feel equipped not only to support our programme, but to help shape it as well, which has been invaluable.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for a business services apprenticeship at Forsters?
I’m a big advocate and will always recommend it. It’s a commitment and can feel daunting if you’re starting out as a school leaver, but it’s definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made. I personally took a gap year after my A‑levels to give myself time to explore options and focus on applying, and it paid off. It’s a great way to start your career and grow skills faster than you expect.
If you’re interested in business services apprenticeships, keep an eye on our vacancies.
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