Enterprise Graduate Review

As an Enterprise Graduate, I rotate around the business on 6-9 month placements so my role varies considerably every half-year. When I started the programme I was working in the Clothing and Home Central Planning and Events team working on cross-business campaign planning and new proposition development. In January I then moved to the Partnerships team where my role is to help drive innovation in M&S by connecting start-ups with key stakeholders within M&S.

I constantly develop new skills and, due to the breadth of my role, the skills I learn as part of my apprenticeship provide a solid foundation to the role-specific skills I gain in each placement. Since starting the apprenticeship I've learned to understand my unconscious biases and how this impacts teams you lead; how to prioritise, time manage and improve efficiency; how to communicate effectively; and, how to deal with conflict.

I thoroughly enjoy the programme. I find it a great respite from the day-to-day tasks involved in my job and it is a great opportunity to reflect on my behaviours and better myself as an individual and a leader. I specifically like the mix of learning methods (video, reading and seminars) as it allows you to better fit the programme to your learning sytle.

The programme has changed in structure since I started it so that each of the modules is more consistent in length. The providers have slimmed the apprenticeship from 10 modules to 7 and I think it makes it easier to understand the programme. I think there could be improvements on consistency/structure of end-of-module assessments as it is occasionally unclear what is mandatory assessment.

As an employer, M&S is great at supporting my apprenticeship from an HR perspective. However, I think there is more work that could be done to engage line managers and ensure they are signed on to allow you to spend the required time on the apprenticeship from the off.

The provider is excellent at supporting you as a learner. We are all assigned a 'coach' who helps us meet deadlines, provoke deeper learning and gather evidence. My coach has been fantastic in helping me when I got behind due to the time demands of my day job. I couldn't fault her

I think there has been a marked change in how I operate in my role since starting this apprenticeship. I am more aware of the style of my communication and change it to match the audience and have found that the effectiveness of my communication has dramatically improved. I have entirely changed the way I manage my time and I am more efficient, productive and happier in my role as a result.

Due to covid it has been challenging to get involved in extra-curricular activities at work. I am part of our data community who host monthly 'hangouts' that consist of a demo and then a panel discussion. I have also joined a book club teams channel that has been a nice way to meet new people across the business.

Yes

M&S is an inclusive and caring employer, particularly for graduates. My scheme in particular offers a high degree of flexibility and personalisation so that you can shape your career in whatever way best suits your aspirations and skills. The Early Careers team are constantly iterating the programme based on our feedback and as an employee, I feel heard and valued.

Be yourself! M&S doesn't just hire one type of person, we hire individuals who are unafraid of being themselves, challenging the status quo and bringing new ideas. Of course, like any company, M&S wants employees that live up to our values but I think these are loose enough to allow for a high degree of diversity