Trading Manager Review

My responsibilities as a Trading Manager at B&Q involve many things but namely to look after the safe, legal and profitable operations of the Showrooms Department at my local branch. This means monitoring sales, ensuring legal and other legislative compliance training is completed by all of my staff. Performance management is key.

Enrolling on and completing my apprenticeship has given me the skills and (arguably more importantly) the confidence needed to be a Trading Manager at B&Q. At the time I enrolled on to the apprenticeship I was a Showrooms Advisor and by the time I had completed the apprenticeship I was successfully promoted to Trading Manager.

I found the apprenticeship program delivered by Lifetime Training to be thoroughly interesting and really gave me a deep insight into the various skills and knowledge needed to lead a team effectively. Working with my learning coach(es) was easy and they were all very friendly, open and knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the programme overall.

The apprenticeship program was structured very well in that each individual aspect of the course e.g. communications, performance, legislation was clearly split into their own dedicated sections, within which the individual tasks and materials were held. Each topic often had links to others in the program which also helped to refresh my knowledge.

I am fortunate to have had a very supportive Line Manager and Unit Manager from the very start of my apprenticeship right through to the end of it. They ensured that I had the appropriate time and space away from the shop floor to complete all my relevant learning and this was so important.

While I had 3 separate learning coaches from Lifetime Training throughout my apprenticeship, each and every one of them was so supportive and approachable (even outside of my scheduled meetings with them). Lifetime Training's online learning platform was also a massive help in collating all of the relevant documentation and resources I might need.

Completing the apprenticeship directly resulted in my successful promotion to a Trading Manager position at B&Q. I cannot thank Lifetime Training and all of my learning coaches for their invaluable support that helped me get to this point. I feel so much more confident at work and it has given me all of the necessary skills I need to perform at my best.

After the completion of my apprenticeship I was invited to a graduation event from B&Q at the VOX in Birmingham. This was a fantastic opportunity to meet and network with my fellow apprentices from up and down the country. It really opened my eyes to how much an apprenticeship can really change your career aspirations for the better.

Yes

Absolutely! On top of offering me the fantastic opportunity to complete my apprenticeship with them, B&Q are such a brilliant company to work for. Pay and benefits are good, the internal "family culture" is so friendly and I believe that with all the innovation we are making in the space currently, B&Q will continue to improve.

Absolutely do it! I have worked at B&Q now for almost 4 years and I have absolutely no intention of going anywhere else. The advice I would offer is to be curious and open to every new opportunity presented to you at B&Q as it can really change your life and career aspirations