Digital Apprentice Review

At Dunelm I am apart of the Digital Trading Team. In the team I work in Search, so the search bar in Dunelm.com. With this we are changing the whole structure of search, using metrics, communicating to other teams, getting customer engagement to see what they want to see on the website. This means I interact with a lot of people in the business as search touches many areas around the business.

Google Analytic Training, Excel Skills, Meeting Skills, creating and reading metrics accurately, going to lots of different workshops about different technology used in Dunelm such as Algolia. I have learnt time management and how to prioritise my workload very well now as the job role becomes more demanding and the university work increases.

I enjoy it a lot. Dunelm really treat us (the apprentices’) well. We get a lot of help from around the business when it comes to actual work or University and everyone wants to help us succeed. The team I work with are really supportive not only are they really good at their jobs but they are friends too and we can just chat.

At the start there wasn’t much structure as we were the first Digital Degree Apprentices Dunelm ever had but due to a structure change and talking to the People team they are working on giving us a clear structure. Right now the structure is three 6 month rotations around Digital Marketing and Trading to give us a taste of everything Digital.

A lot! All my team are really supportive in giving me time to do my University work and they really help if I stuck with my Digital work. My team have regular chats so we know how everyone is and we have progression meetings every day to see what everyone is doing that day.

So much support! After each university visit we sit down with someone in Dunelm who is best suited to the University topic and we can ask them for help confidently and they will give all the resources and help they can do. Even after the help they give they are keen to see how you are getting in at university. My team are very supportive about giving me time out of my normal work to do my university work.

It gives me a more rounded view of the business. If I didn’t do the Retail Leadership Course provided my Manchester Metropolitan University I would not get the full understanding of Dunelm as a whole as I do now. Especially working in digital I didn’t know as much about Supply Chain or Buying and Merchandising for example but the course has given me that knowledge.

Yes there are lots. There is a Netball Team, there is Murder Mystery Nights, Comedy Nights there are so many events put on by Dunelm that gets everyone involved and really helps you meet new people round the business. We often have birthday meals, leaving meals, baby showers for members of the team.

Yes

It is such a fun business. Everyone is so kind and helpful that I have met and the business is like a family. There is a relaxed atmosphere and everyone wants everyone to succeed. There is always someone to help you if you have a problem and the work is so interesting with a fast growing/ diverse company like Dunelm.

Go to as many things as you can such as Netball or Murder Mystery Nights just to get to know people. Be yourself and try your best at everything you do and that’s everything everyone looks for and wants and you will fit in easily in such a caring business.