Fionnuala Cush, Apprentice Tourist Officer
Fionnuala Cush was the winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award 2018 at the annual Creative & Cultural Skills Northern Ireland Awards and the Apprentice of the Year Award 2019 in the national awards. We spoke to her about how her apprenticeship helped her secure a full time role.
What job do you do?
I’m an Apprentice Tourist Officer for Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich in Belfast
How did you get your job?
I saw the job opportunity and decided to apply for it. I had to do an interview and they thought I was the best person for the job.
Tell me about your day to day work
My day to day work involves working a lot with people on the ground. It’s a face-to-face job as I am at the front desk to welcome all visitors to Cultúrlann. I organise rooms to be setup for whatever event or booking we have in that day, and liaise with the person running said event.
How did it feel to win the award?
It is really nice to know you are appreciated in your work and to even be nominated for the award
Honestly it felt amazing and really rewarding to win the award. I was not expecting it at all. It is really nice to know you are appreciated in your work and to even be nominated for the award, so to win by the judges’ vote just gave me a nice confidence boost.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the near future are to evolve my work here in Cultúrlann. I have the amazing opportunity to continue my work when my apprenticeship finishes in January 2019, by working as a Business Development Officer. It is amazing that I have got to learn new skills while working on the job, basically learning everything from scratch, so I want to continue learning as much as I can.
I will also be starting a course in January 2019 in Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management, so I am looking forward to that.
My advice to others would be to grab the bull by the horns and give it everything you have.
What advice would you give to others?
My advice to others would be to grab the bull by the horns and give it everything you have. This apprenticeship scheme is an amazing opportunity to learn new skills and to also get paid! What more could you want?
The Apprentice of the Year Award 2019 was jointly awarded to Fionnuala Cush and Sophie Hukin.
