Confidence Through Capability: Elaine’s Journey into Governance

How the Governance Officer Level 4 Apprenticeship helped Elaine grow in skills, confidence, and career clarity

About Elaine

Elaine Barden is a Governance Assistant at Rolls-Royce SMR. As a member of the first UK cohort to complete the Governance Officer Level 4 Apprenticeship, she’s developed practical skills, grown in confidence, and discovered a clear career path within the governance profession.

Why Elaine Chose the Apprenticeship
Elaine was drawn to the programme because of its unique blend of academic learning and hands-on experience in a professional governance environment.
“It offered a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience while building a solid understanding of governance and compliance. The structured learning helped me grow my skills with support from both tutors and my day-to-day role.” 

Skills Gained & Confidence Built
Elaine credits the apprenticeship with significantly improving her knowledge, skills, and confidence, especially when working with senior colleagues. “One of the biggest things I gained was confidence, particularly in
communicating with senior stakeholders and understanding how governance supports strategic decision-making.”

She also developed strong foundations in risk management, compliance, and board support, including tasks like preparing papers, maintaining registers, and coordinating meetings. These experiences have not only prepared her for greater responsibility, but also given her a clear sense of purpose and direction. “I now feel much more prepared to take on greater responsibilities and continue progressing in a governance or corporate support role.”

Day-to-Day Impact
Elaine’s learning has made a clear difference in her everyday work. She now handles governance tasks with greater independence and impact.
“I feel more comfortable preparing agendas, taking minutes, and ensuring actions are tracked. I also understand the bigger picture, how my work supports compliance, transparency, and good decision-making.”

She’s also become more proactive in identifying risks and spotting process gaps, which has helped her contribute more strategically across the organisation. 

A Stand-Out Moment
One of Elaine’s proudest moments came when she supported a full board meeting from start to finish, preparing the agenda, attending, and producing the minutes. “That moment brought everything together. I saw how much I’d grown in confidence and capability and the positive feedback I received from senior colleagues really boosted my motivation.”

It was a milestone that confirmed her value within the governance function and that she was on the right path professionally. 

Would She Recommend It?
Absolutely.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience while building a solid foundation in governance and compliance. The combination of on-the-job learning and structured study helped me grow in confidence and develop directly relevant skills. If someone is interested in how organisations are run and wants to contribute to good decision-making, this apprenticeship is a great starting point.”

Ready to start your own governance journey?
Find out more about the Governance Officer Level 4 Apprenticeship here:
🔗www.clearquality.co.uk/governa...
📧 info@clearquality.co.uk
📞 01709 918501