Chartered Manager Degree Apprentice Review

I am currently in the dealer setup team at first response finance limited. When we look to provide finance for dealers on their vehicles they are looking to sell, in order for us to work with them they have to go through a setup process where we ensure that they meet all the criteria and will be good for business.

Yes- I have developed skills such as communication, awareness of myself and others, developing collaborative relationships. On the course we have to look to improve on skills in all areas in order to meet our Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB's). This has helped me massively to develop multiple skills as it makes you think about them and how you can look to improve them.

I think the program is a great way to be able to learn relevant on the job skills while also learning in an education at the same time. It allows me to have relevant real world experience while further developing my education. However, sometimes I find that the lectures aren't always used to their true potential as some lecturers spend too long on certain tasks when it isn't needed.

I think it is well organised in the sense of when we go to university and how it fits around our job. However, sometimes at University I have found the lectures lack a bit of structure as sometimes we are given far to long for a simple task or they miss a large amount of slides due to not sticking to a strict time schedule.

First Response provide an enormous amount of support both in work and at university. We have an allocated university mentor who is there for us around the clock if we need any help whether that be how to do things correctly at uni or for personal development and this is a massive help and there is always support available at any point for whatever we need.

Same as the above note. They are ther4e whenever we need whatever it may be for. It could be skill sessions which will help us with our assignments so we have the relevant necessary or whether it be through providing ideas on ways we can improve the way we think about things and how we work

By doing this qualification it helps me to learn relevant business material which I can then use in my day to day role and also help me moving forward when thinking about things we coulkd do which could improve things within our department. It allows me to further my education while gaining relevant experience.

Yes the company offers a quarterly night out for all the teams and they provide £25 per person for the team to be able to go out and do something as a team. Also they run a football session on a Wednesday where a few of the lads from work all go down for a 5 a side match. there are a lot of social activities which people get involved in, in and out of work.

Yes

Great company to work for. They really do look after all their employees and make it a great environment to work in. There is support there for everyone in the business and also multiple benefits which the company provide to look after their employees and keep them happy. The company is like one big family.

If your going to apply for first response the most important thing is to be yourself and to never give up. I first time round didn't get through the application process and didn't get the job however through hard work and not giving up I came back a year later and was able to get the job through being myself and not giving up.