Store Manager Review

My role as store manager involves being accountable for and leading my team to ensure the delivery of all the company standards and expectations

I have learnt how to better communicate with my team and the different styles of communication and management. It has given me more confidence in my ability and to ensure I can deliver along with my team, rather than trying to do a lot of tasks myself. Also being able to analyse my performance and stores results is always very beneficial.

I enjoy the programme's different modules and being able to plan my time to achieve each aspect of the programme. For me, having not had the hours allocated to me to complete the apprenticeship has been challenging trying to juggle running the store and completing the programme but I do enjoy the programme.

The programme has been organised well and there is a lot of structure to it as well. I get the content that I need and being able to access the portal and see what is needed to be completed has been useful to me. The only aspect that I struggle with is not having access to the Wifi in store to be able to complete during work hours.

I haven't received a lot of support from my employer for the programme. I have had talks with my AM about my progress but in terms of actually being given the time to complete it, this hasn't happened at all. I was give three weeks where I had one day a week I could complete but this was then removed so it has halted my progress which has been very frustrating. I hope to now take half a day a week so I can complete the programme in the correct timescale.

I receive a lot of support from my training provider when I am working towards the qualifications. I get regular emails or calls and updates and supported with all of my progress. They are very approachable and friendly and it has really helped make the programme a lot more enjoyable for me.

For me, the qualification adds some benefit to my role however because I am currently doing the role of store manager which the programme upon completion would allow me to do, I am carrying out the full role of store manager anyway. It has however given me more confidence in my ability and helping to really succeed.

Currently there aren't any extra curricular activities that I could get involved in at work. One thing we do as a team fairly often is have a team building evening where we would either go bowling or socialise but in terms of anything the company provide, there isn't anything.

Yes

It is a very challenging role and a challenging company to work for which I like. It pushes you to be the best that you can be, it motivates me and rewards you for the hard work that you put in. For those people who want a career where it is challenging but rewarding then I would highly recommend it.

The advice I would give would be to prepared for a challenging role. It isn't just a 37.5 hours a week job, you have to do more in order to help your store to succeed. You will be rewarded for hard work but it is a very good place to work with a great team of people too.