Higher Apprentice Supply Chain Review

My role is within the supply chain function of my business. Every 4 month's I move to a new area within the business to ensure that I get a well rounded wealth of knowledge of the business and its areas. Day to day activities can include anything from attending meeting, running projects, purchasing items or reviewing design documents with other functions.

Yes every week I continually develop myself and my competencies. I have worked hard to map out my placements and where I want to go based on what competencies I wish to develop. Stakeholder management is just one of the skills in which I have developed during my time on the scheme.

I thoroughly enjoy the programme, the experiences and opportunities it has provide me with have been second to none. I have thrown myself in to new situations throughout the scheme and even the new experiences are enjoyable because you know it is a new development opportunity where you can work out what you're strengths and area of improvement are.

At the start there was quite a few teething issues because it was the first year my function had run the programme. Since then it has come on in leaps and bounds, going from strength to strength. Our placement opportunities are pre mapped out and as is out function based qualification. Very well organised.

As my employer has got to know me as an individual they have catered the support I need to suit me. When I first joined support was there constantly and feedback was sought from the business. Now I am lucky to have a function who know if I have any issues I will tell them, so I don't get pestered but I always know I am supported and if I need help it is there for me.

TO begin with the support was not the best but this was down to teething problems of a new qualification within the business and a new training provider. They listened to us though and these issues were soon ironed out. Our training provider is now really good and catered to ours and the qualifications needs.

The qualification is beneficial to me performing better in my role, it is another way of me learning what is being discussed in meetings, it allows me to practise what I am learning in everyday life. This is a good learning mechanism for me as I learn by doing things rather than just reading about something.

There are lots of extra curricular activities within my business. There are regularly emails sent out to us all advising us of a new club which may be forming, when training may be, people planning walks in the lake district on a weekend. It is friendly and anyone is welcome to go to any of them.

Yes

There is so much variety which can mean most peoples preferences in what job they would like to do. The salary is good and they support you in your learning. They pay for your qualifications and regularly monitor what you are doing and offer advise on how you can improve and develop yourself. The scheme is a very good way of kick starting your field.

Be yourself. Our business likes to see fresh thinking and innovative people welcomed in to the business. Don't be afraid to express your aspirations for your future career, don't be afraid of asking for a course others may not have been on, if there is good justification for doing it they will support you.