To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with members of our team to find out why they chose the apprenticeship route, how it has made a difference to their career path and what advice they would give to others considering embarking on the journey. Here, we speak to Jonathan Robson, an Assistant Store Manager who completed a Retail Manager Level 4 apprenticeship.
What made you take the leap to join the Retail Manager apprenticeship programme?
Soon after taking on the Assistant Store Manager role, I came across the opportunity to upskill myself with the Retail Manager apprenticeship. I saw it as an opportunity to develop in my current role and prepare me for the next step: becoming Store Manager.
What was the highlight of the apprenticeship programme?
The highlight for me was creating and running my own business project for my end point assessment. This gave me an opportunity to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and behaviors I developed during the course.
The project itself was also a new challenge for me. It helped me to establish valuable skills for my personal development and the business.
How has your career benefitted from taking part in the apprenticeship programme?
Following the programme, I now have the confidence and knowledge to put together development plans for myself and the team which I have already started implementing. I hope these will prepare me for my next role as a store manager.
What advice would you like to share with those considering taking on an apprenticeship?
Don’t be afraid to take on the challenge! Strong time management is key - I would advise apprentices to set aside time both in and outside of working hours to undertake all the tasks required.
There is a wealth of knowledge within the business, so make sure you take advantage of it to gain advice, thoughts and insight when completing assignments.
If you’d like to find out more about job opportunities at Dulux Decorator Centre, please visit https://dulux.manpower.co.uk/