Apprentice Abbey’s
paperless mission

HMRC apprentice Abbey shares her career journey, what it’s like being a communications apprentice at HMRC, and her work in supporting HMRC’s sustainability objectives. Abbey also shares some helpful advice on how HMRC customers can support us in taking care of our planet, for Earth Day on 22 April.

About me

I’m Abbey and up until January 2023, I was working at a doggy day-care in the North-East. This was an amazing job looking after dogs every day, but I felt I needed something new, something which offered the opportunity for development and new skills. This is why I’m so proud I was accepted onto the Government Communications Service (GCS) PR and Communications apprenticeship.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Being part of the apprenticeship scheme has meant I have been able to meet so many amazing new people. There are lots of fantastic seminars to attend and each one was a great experience to make lots of new friends. It was amazing to meet the other people on my course in person to help each other, discuss work we had been doing and in general, just get to know them.

I’ve also been lucky enough to work with teams across HMRC gaining valuable experience in different business areas. I’ve been able to learn how communications teams work together to create fantastic campaigns reaching colleagues and customers across the UK. I particularly enjoyed working in the events team and learning about all the elements of how an event is planned from start to finish and be there on the day to watch it come to life. I even helped out on the day by checking people in, setting up conference rooms as well as mic running to ensure each aspect of the day ran smoothly.

Current role – sign up to paperless

Currently, I’m working with a team called Income Tax Service Transformation (ITST), doing communications to support HMRC customers to use our digital services. I’m nearing the end of my apprenticeship and am completing my End Point Assessment with a project to encourage customers and colleagues to sign up to paperless letters from HMRC via their online account or the HMRC app. It’s really easy to do and the paperless letters are faster, secure and all saved in one place online. You still have the option to print them if you need a paper copy but if you don’t, you’ll be helping the environment by saving paper. I like that the work I get to do on my apprenticeship can make a real difference to people and the planet.

Would you go for it?

I am sad to be coming to the end of my apprenticeship, but I am so proud to look back at everything I have achieved and done during my time here. For someone who had never even worked in an office, let alone Government communications, it just shows how supportive everyone on this course has been to me and why I have done well. If you are looking for a change of career like I was, I’d highly recommend an apprenticeship at HMRC, where the work is interesting, the people are supportive, and kind and you will thrive!

Sign up to paperless

If you’d like to change the way you receive HMRC letters and do your bit for Earth Day, download the free and secure HMRC app or sign in to HMRC online services and choose the paperless settings.

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