Business and supply chain apprentice Review

Throughout my apprenticeship I will complete multiple rotations throughout the business. Currently, I am working within the quality department working with suppliers to ensure high quality raw materials. On a daily basis this involves speaking with multiple people internally and externally to the business and making quality based decisions from these discussions.

I started straight from school with a very basic and generic skill set which I have developed throughout. I have developed my technical skills relevant to each function of the business that I have had a role in as well as my soft skills that I will transfer to all job roles. For example, I have massively developed my communication skills, confidence, and leadership ability.

I really enjoy my programme. It has been possible throughout my apprenticeship to personalise my experience to suit me and my development goals while supporting the needs of the business. Not only this but the people I work with are very helpful and willing to teach. No question has been a stupid question and I look forward to coming to work each day.

My programme has an initial structure however it is molded throughout to best suit the business needs and my needs as a student. The structure I was given initially would have allowed me to develop my skill set massively but throughout the years there have been opportunities within the business. This has meant the structure has changed slightly but it has changed around me.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. I am actively encouraged to put my development and learning first throughout my apprenticeship and am given the time to learn everything I want to. I have supportive managers and multiple mentors throughout the business who all encourage me and enable me to pursue opportunities.

My training provider has been very helpful, they are very quick to respond to emails requesting help and will put in additional one-to-one sessions when required. From the assignments that I have completed I have had clear and in depth feedback, and the resources available to me through the training provider have enhanced my learning experience.

The qualification does not always align with my daily work. For example, I may have a rotation in a quality department while learning about international trade. However, I have found that most things will enhance each other eventually even if it is not completely aligned. Also, a lot of the qualification has enhanced my soft skills such as project management which I can use throughout nearly all roles.

There are many additional activities available. This has been reduced due to COVID-19 but they will be starting up again as restrictions are removed. Since I have joined I have seen multiple sports teams, a choir, networking events through employee resource groups, social outings, and more. None of the extra-curriculars are obligatory but there are a lot available to those who want them.

Yes

The benefits available are great and the working environment is friendly and supportive. It is a great place to work where personal growth and development is encouraged massively. It is also a very diverse place to work and I have met some incredibly interesting people who have taught me a lot.

Take your time when applying and do your research. Remember to use examples when asked questions and clear structures such as STAR (Situation, target, action, result) to really demonstrate why you are the best fit for the role. Also make sure to be yourself, they value authenticity and you are more likely to succeed if you are not pretending to be someone you're not.