Team Leader Review

My role includes assisting the manager and deputy manager with the running and progress of the store. Independently supervising in their absence. Jobs include: counting tills at start and end of trade, pleading a team of online pickers, leading the team to complete all delivery and other tasks before end of trade, reviewing reports and setting action plans, completing waste, controlling inventory.

I have developed a variety of skills while at The Food Warehouse (by Iceland), skills such as: reviewing reports, having challenging conversations, controlling stock levels, leading a team, planning a rota, leading store changeovers, communicating via different channels such as telephone, email, etc. I have also learned the processes of investigation and disciplinary’s.

I enjoy my programme as it is constantly focusing on key areas for me to develop giving me good self awareness of where I am at and what I need to be doing/learning to improve. The programme itself has a variety of teaching methods from 1-to-1 sessions, presentations, interactive videos, videos, reading. The variety in this helps to keep me engaged and motivated while completing the modules.

The programme is very well structured, after having your initial ‘meet your coach’ session where you talk through the overview of your programme all the modules are separated into monthly categories - this helps to avoid you feeling overwhelmed with the workload. It is all self paced as well with regular meetings with your coach where they will set additional practical tasks and review where you are with your learning. Your coach is also available at any time to answer questions or queries about your programme along the way.

I was recommended by my employer to start the apprenticeship, they have been supportive every step of the way from getting me to sign up to helping me complete modules when required. For instance, allowing me to note take in an investigation meeting to get the experience as part of a task in one of my modules.

Lifetime Training provide a lot of support for me as I work towards my qualification. From the Lifetime Training coach that helps me every step of the way and continues to push me, to the online programme where their is a help option to help you navigate through your work.

As I progress through my qualification I am being pushed and challenged to become better in my role. I have taken on extra responsibilities, learned new skills and experiences that I wouldn’t have without the programme. Specifically learning and understanding the different types of communication and leadership styles has enabled me to put them into practice and therefore more effect in Ely lead my team.

I am not aware of the company having organised any extra-curricular activities for staff. However, I work with a good team and we often go play football/pool/darts as well as other social activities throughout the year. I know this is also similar in other stores in the area. The company do provide competitions such as selling incentives where you can win cash prizes for your stores social fund, this helps fund the activities that we do!

Yes

Specifically The Food Warehouse (by Iceland) are a good company to work for as they encourage promotion from within, you can go from general assistant to store manager quicker than a lot of other places if you have the right desire and drive. There is also a good team spirit and togetherness wishing the company.

The best advice to take on is to work hard but enjoy what you are doing, there are a lot of opportunities for progression and or developing skills if you work hard but fundamentally for you to achieve the best possible outcome from your time at Iceland you need to enjoy what you are doing.