Account Director Review

Managing a retail client, looking after two account managers, answering queries and resolving problems. Providing reports and governance to my supplier contact to ensure the smooth day to day running of the account. Reviewing areas of the business that require improvement and liaising with relevant stakeholders to move this forward. Daily interactions with both my own internal team and my external contacts.

I have vastly improved my commercial skillset since beginning my time with my company. This is due to moving around the business and experiencing different clients and processes. I have managed quotations, contracts, invoices etc over the last seven years. I am been able to enhance my leadership qualities as well and have active examples to improve my management techniques. Coaching remains a long term goal

I believe it has been very helpful in my move into a management role in a team I was previously part of, I have had to reform it somewhat due to maternity leave. I will say it's a large and intense course and there are times when the deadlines have not felt realistic or I find myself repeating examples across assignments

It is very much based around the handout sheets we are given beforehand. There is not much deviation and sometimes it can feel like we could read that ourselves. There is also not much in terms of involvement post session. I am a little sad we haven't any in person events either

My business is very much individual led time management in my job role so the help will be there if I request it but for the most part I can just get on with what I need. Sometimes being in the retail environment does not lend itself to being the most helpful

I am hoping there will be more when we are reaching our end point assessment as at the moment I do feel like it's the sessions then an occasional check in. Again would've loved some in person sessions so we could really discuss with our counterparts - I know it's post covid but that's not so much a reason anymore

I believe it will give me an arsenal of tools to call on when I go through different management experiences and it's given me the confidence to immediately speak up for my team. However, i'm not quite qualified yet so lets see how I get on at EPA

I'm involved in the culture club at work - looking to find new ways for the team to socialise but also really maintain those hygiene factors. We have to get the basics correct to enable people to work at the best of their ability. Other than that no active examples but maybe in the future

Yes

I think they have been a wonderful company to lean on and all in all it's been a valuable experience despite feeling somewhat overwhelming at points. I would say to people that they need to take their time constraints into consideration before applying. I've thoroughly enjoyed speaking to people at other businesses.

Take your workload into consideration. I refuse to do work on my apprenticeship in the evenings and weekends as I need to maintain that work life balance, it's essential. Make sure it adds value to your career aspirations as well, it's a lot of work for it to not work for you at the end. Lastly, good luck!