In the Spotlight: Zach Hirons
This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Zach Hirons, who’s part of our Admin Team here at Heart of England Training. Zach joined us in October 2024 as a Business Administrator Apprentice, and he’s now coming towards the end of his Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship. With gateway and EPA prep on the horizon over the next few months, it’s a big stage of the journey — but Zach’s taking it in his stride.
He says he’s not feeling nervous about EPA yet… though he’s pretty sure the nerves will turn up at some point. For now, he’s focused on keeping things on track and making sure the day-to-day work gets done properly.
Why a business admin apprenticeship?
Zach chose the Business Administration apprenticeship because it felt like a solid qualification that would support his career long-term. He wanted something practical, something that would open doors, and something he could build on.
Before HOET, Zach was at college studying BTEC Sport, and he was also working part-time at TK Maxx. So while his course was sports-based, he knew he wanted a qualification that would give him strong foundations in the working world — and business admin was the route that made sense.
What does Zach cover day-to-day?
If you’ve ever wondered what the Admin Team do behind the scenes — it’s a lot, and Zach’s right in the middle of it.
A big part of Zach’s role is dealing with certificate enquiries. That means helping learners who’ve completed their programmes to get proof of their qualifications, and working with team members to make sure enquiries are handled correctly. He also supports with incoming enquiries by phone, helping to answer questions and direct people to the right place.
On top of that, Zach helps to manage who comes in and out of Head Office, which is one of those jobs that’s easy to overlook until you realise how important it is for keeping things organised and running smoothly.
He also works alongside Holly, supporting her with safeguarding admin. It’s the kind of work where you really need to be on it — careful, organised, and reliable.
The bits he enjoys most
When asked what he likes most about the role, Zach’s answer is basically: he enjoys the stuff that keeps standards high and everything ticking over.
He likes creating 7-day letters and issuing them to help make sure standards are met. He also enjoys working on timesheets and making changes to learning journals. Zach says he likes this because it helps support the educator, and it keeps everything moving so learners don’t get held up.
It’s very “get it sorted, keep it moving” energy — and honestly, we need that.
Why the Admin Team works well
Zach also made a point of saying how much he likes being part of the Admin Team. The main reason? Teamwork.
He likes that people support each other, help out when things get busy, and generally just get on with it as a team. That’s been a big part of his experience so far — feeling backed, while also being trusted to do his own thing.
A proud moment so far
One of Zach’s biggest highlights has been passing the maths exam that forms part of his apprenticeship requirements. It’s a big deal — not just because it’s an achievement, but because it means he can now move forward into EPA.
He described it as a real relief (and fair enough). With EPA coming up, it’s one less thing to worry about and a big confidence boost.
Zach also gave a few shout-outs to the people who helped him get there:
- Dan, for supporting him with maths and helping him get it “across the finish line”
- Mo, for going through past papers with him
- Shannon Güngör, for being a supportive manager and a great role model
- Everyone in the Admin Team, for the day-to-day support
Outside of work
When he’s not in the office, Zach’s usually playing darts with family, seeing friends, supporting Leicester City FC, or out walking his dog Buddy — an Irish Terrier.
What’s next?
Longer term, Zach’s dream job would be to work in administration in the sports sector — things like writing reports and supporting sports organisations behind the scenes.
And if you’re thinking about doing an apprenticeship yourself, Zach definitely recommends it. For him, it’s been a great way to earn while you learn, build your skills, and develop your career with a supportive network around you.
