National Apprenticeship Week: Brooke Cunningham

NEWS |

For the UK's 16th National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), we are asking our Library Management and Archive Apprentice, Brooke Cunningham, to share her experience so far at Pembroke.

National Apprenticeship Week celebrates the achievements of our apprentices, and highlights the positive impact apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Pembroke is proud to be a place where we can provide our apprentices with 'Skills for Life', which is the theme of this year's celebration!

Headshot of Brooke Cunningham

Brooke shares:

"Hello! I am Brooke, an apprentice at Pembroke College Library. In my spare time, I love to be craftsy and am currently attempting book binding and creating a book nook with my partner.

I am part of a small team, Laura – the Librarian and Amanda – the archivist. I have been here since September 2022 and I am absolutely in my element and loving it!

But before I landed this book-tacular apprenticeship, I studied Art History at the University of Plymouth, volunteered at Harris Manchester College and worked within the historical site, Oxford Castle and Prison. As soon as I saw the advertisement for this position, the little book nerd in me, could not let the opportunity slip away, as it was a role where it offered one to delve into the world of Oxford libraries – a network that I have learnt is so wonderfully unique and thriving.

I am in college Mon-Fri, apart from Wednesday’s where I study at Westminster Adult Education Service and connect with other apprentices who work in local libraries, London’s National Gallery and the Royal Opera House. It is a joy be able to catch up with my classmates on what we all got up to in our apprenticeships, as the library and archive roles are all so full of variation. On the practical learning side, the apprenticeship is great for me where I can put the theory into practice.

Words can’t explain the nerves and excitement on my first day, and I was even excited with the fact I have my own desk. Whilst it has only been 4 months and a bit, I have been supported all the way and am learning so much. It is a job where I can fulfil my love of spending on books, unwrapping book deliveries most days (it’s Christmas every day here), learning to be a computer and printer whizz, seeing how many books I can carry, but most importantly engaging and building connections with the students, staff and academics of the Pembroke community. 

These experiences not only furthered my wonderment of Oxford itself but of its academic libraries and the amazing people within the colleges. What is also great about being part of the Oxford University Community, is the opportunity for professional development. So far, I have attended College book exhibitions, talks on digitisation, archives and AI- machine learning. I look forward to continuing my apprenticeship in this thriving, learned, supportive environment."