Retail and Office Operations Apprentice Review

My role in Sweaty Betty is assuring shops have everything they need in order to operate sufficiently and serve our customers, as well as looking after the office, making sure we have everything here to motivate and help staff be productive. Whether it is making sure we have all types or teas and coffee or making sure they have all equipment to work and being a key point of contact for some suppliers and our contractors.

In this role I have improved my timekeeping skills a lot as well as my peoples skills as I have to interact with lots of different people on a daily basis. I have also learnt a lot of health and safety risks and precautions for offices as well as shops and how to manage and look after numerous shops balancing and assigning my time accordingly to deal with different matters, from a leaking shop sealing to a faulty security alarm.

I enjoy my programme a lot as I have a lovely team to work with and there is great communication between my tutor and my manager so we are aware at the level I am working at and how to improve. Sweaty Betty is a big family and everyone works together here to get the best outcome and the tasks I complete relate to the course I am studying so everything falls into place very well.

My programme and the steps before my first day was very smooth and straight forward, a lot of communication with my manager in order to make sure I was ready to start and signed all the required documents. This was great as I started this position in a lockdown where a lot of businesses were struggling and a lot had changed in the workplace for both my tutor and manager so getting used to dealing with students virtually and over video calls and over the phone is very hard. It was a very fast transition and both organisations perform as they have been doing this for years and have adjusted very quickly.

Sweaty Betty is a very supportive company and they only want the best for you and will provide any support needed. I have weekly feedback and catch up sessions with my manager to see if I am on top of work and to discuss any issues if I have them. Monthly I have a one to one with another line manager and a meeting with all the other apprentices to discuss any strengths or weaknesses if we had any and development. Also Sweaty Betty have learning allowances to help us expand our learning outside of work also extra learning courses or even a sporting course.

I have recently changed tutors and I had a very fast and smooth changeover, both tutors are very supportive and easy to get hold of, they provided both their emails and contact number if you ever need to contact them. I also have monthly sessions to reflect on my work and receive feedback, I can contact them anytime during the month prior to our session to discuss anything I may not be sure about and ask for assistance.

I believe the support I receive from my tutor gives me more motivation as I doubt myself a lot, with my tutor reassuring me it makes me feel a lot better and helps me achieve more by believing in myself and being more confident in what I do which also improves my performance skills as they encourage me to believe in myself more.

Sweaty Betty have multiple activities available for us to get involved in including house challenges as every staff member is part of a house team, as well as a yearly sports day, online classes for pilates yoga and more as are in a lockdown and for apprentices we have socials which will always make you feel better as its almost like being rewarding for your work and showing appreciation.

Yes

As this company has very strong values and they are very clear and easy to see on whether working for the company or not, and I'd like everyone to experience a workplace as such. I believe everyone has been in a work place they didn't enjoy but here with Sweaty Betty it's one big family and everyone here supports you and pushes you to do better it is a diverse workplace and they treat everyone the same.

Just be honest and true to yourself when in your interview, the interview process is very laid back and you don't feel the pressure you would usually in an interview it's just like you're having a conversation with someone and they are trying to get you. The process is very fast also and there is a 2 part interview process, the first part is getting to know you and the second part is move testing you in a scenarios you are given a list of scenario and you must put them in order of priorities.