Team leader Review

As a team leader at the co-op, I typically open or close the store and complete all relevant management duties from putting the tills out so we are ready to trade, to then bringing in deliveries and replenishing stock. I am the person in control and ensure health and safety is maintained.

I have learnt a lot of new skills: operational from controlling leakage (shrinkage) and looking at profit and loss in the business. I have also developed a lot of people skills with my management role - being involved with onboarding activities and getting to know the team. A very rewarding time.

I have enjoyed my programme a lot despite it being a challenging time in retail and the world obviously given the pandemic. But it has fostered in me an appreciation for learning again with the various conferences there are. It has been nice meeting people albeit digitally throughout the course.

My programme has been very well organised and structured. There are various conferences we attend throughout the year but also professional discussions that are used to reinforce the learning from conferences and personal study. There is plenty of time for self reflection and the learning journals are a good place to reflect.

I have received a lot of support from my employer throughout the course. Both my managers have been supportive and able to answer any questions I might have. It is planned in so I receive my learning hours every week to ensure I am not playing catch up with the apprenticeship.

I have received a lot of support from HART throughout the course and also my tutor. He has always made himself available if I so wish. He even encouraged us to get his phone number to drop him a call if we ever needed to talk about work or otherwise.

I have found the training to be invaluable in my role so far. I have recently moved stores so the courses I have been on have been almost tailor made to be applied to this new setting. This has the added bonus of being able to relay my learning with my new team.

There are extra curricular activities within my work, such as football on weeknights and other quiz nights and such. Of course with the pandemic this has all been put on the back-burner but we are all really looking forward to getting back out there and enjoying each others company again.

Yes

I have found the co-op to be a really friendly and rewarding place to work. There is so much scope for personal development and an enriching career thereafter. Progression is encouraged throughout the business. I also find the commitment to the community so rewarding - very much a community centred business.

I would say that if you wanted to apply to Co-op ensure you are a people person firstly. Inherent in the nature of co-op being a very community oriented retailer, there is a lot of onus placed on the difference we can make in the communities we serve. And it is so rewarding.