I'm Alicia, an Historic Environment Advice Assistant Apprentice at the National Trust as part of the Archaeology team in the Midlands and East of England but I mainly work in the West Midlands area. I recently came into this position as of September last year, after completing my university degree, so I am still fairly new to the working heritage sector! It has been just over a year since I finished my Archaeology and Heritage Degree at Worcester University and feel I have achieved a great deal since working with the Trust to better improve my knowledge and learn the ways of how we look after the historic environment, particularly within the Trust.

I suppose I should go back to the very beginning of my journey with archaeology, which definitely did not start from a young age. I know a lot of people would say their love for archaeology stemmed from their childhood. Of course, I had experienced archaeology, seen it on the TV even, but for a long time my passion lied with history. I was fascinated by the likes of historical figures such as Florence Nightingale and Samuel Pepys, these amazing people we got to learn about at primary school and my love for history continued throughout secondary school and was by far my favourite subject. However, it wasn’t until I started looking at colleges to do my A-Levels that an interest in archaeology was sparked again. I ended up taking Archaeology, History and English Literature and loved all three subjects but knew I wanted to pursue archaeology further by completing a degree in that subject. So, I moved to Worcester for three years, met the best people along the way and really fell in love with archaeology and knew I wanted a career in the sector.

I think the great thing about the archaeology and heritage sector is the variety of careers and I sort of knew straight away at university that I wanted a job where I advised and consulted on archaeology because it entailed so many different elements and skills which I loved throughout my degree. I've always been surrounded by people telling me if you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life and I have to say if you’re lucky to find a passion and pursue it, you can love your job and have days where you feel like you’re not working because you enjoy it so much.

Since my time with the National Trust, training to be an Historic Environment advisor/consultant I have been involved in a variety of projects from community excavations, going out with HART volunteers to monitor the archaeology we have at NT properties to being involved with the process of managing and protecting the archaeology we look after. No day is the same in my role and I am learning so much along the way and I am given opportunities to work in new areas to develop my skills as I hope at the end of my apprenticeship I will continue within this line of work.