Apprentice Buyer Review

As an apprentice buyer, my role generally revolves around assisting the rest of the Procurement team at MAG. However, I am now currently placed in the FM, Engineering and Maintenance team and my role now consists of running my own tenders and projects for maintenance services around the MAG Group.

Yes, whilst I had already learnt how to use Microsoft office at school, being in this environment has allowed me to hone my excel skills to the point where I believe I have an above average skill set. I have also, as part of my job role, managed to develop my negotiation skills to the point where I have managed to negotiate with some of our suppliers in order to get the best deal.

I enjoy my programme very much, I am very lucky in that the tutors from SRSCC are very friendly and approachable from the off, I know that if I have an issue with anything, work or otherwise, the tutors will support me and help in any way they can, so my experience from that point of view has been very positive.

My programme is structured to a point, there is an overall aim/target of passing 5 exams, completing a project report and finally presenting on a project of my choice to a board to finally complete the apprenticeship. I have to admit however, when I first started the programme I had little knowledge on the subject matter and the training provider provided some help but a little more would've been appreciated.

I enjoy working for MAG due to the fact that I am lucky that the members of my team and my line managers are very friendly and approachable from the off, I know that if I have an issue with anything, work or otherwise, I will be supported and they will help in any way they can.

The training provider provides 3 learning days per unit, and there are 5 units in total. for each unit, the provider also gives a revision session and revisions notes which have proved very useful until now. They also offer 'CPD' days which in effect are extra information days on certain subject matters, designed to assist you in your daily role.

As mentioned when I first started the apprenticeship I had little knowledge on Procurement, and whilst I have been learning everyday on the job, a big part of my learning and understanding of how things work comes from the teaching provided by the training provider as part of my qualification.

Yes, my department, Procurement and Contracts, is very good for being inclusive to all members of the team due to an unofficial insistence that we should go out on social nights together to help us bond as a team. It is also mandatory that every quarter the P&C team goes into the local community and volunteers, this too is a good way for the team to bond.

Yes

Whilst I can't speak for the entire business, certainly my experience of the company has been very positive in terms of the different stakeholders I have interacted with over the past year, all have been helpful and supportive and so I would definitely recommend the business to a friend.

MAG is a great company to work for due to it's interesting and supportive nature, however, be open minded and prepared to step out of your comfort zone, in the past I have been more confident in some areas compared to others, however as part of the job I have had to become confident in order to get the job done. This however, was fully supported by my line managers whom helped my every step of the way.