Rating

9.8/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • The main part of my role is to assist the Store Manager with the day-to-day running of the shop. I help recruit volunteers, complete back office work (including banking and office administration), maintain the store's KPI's and uphold the store's health and safety policy. Other duties include sourcing donations for the charity, raising awareness of the charity and it's outcomes and working in the community to increase our reputation.

    10/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • The main skills I've learnt are management based - coming from a retail background I already possessed skills in that area. Recruitment, disciplinary and health and safety related topics are ones I have found to gain the most improvement during my time with Sense, and I know that these will continue to improve. Also, the development of the skills of others is something I didn't know would have such a large part in my workday, so the way I coach others in the processes and policies of the charity is developing too.

    10/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • Thoroughly! Lifetime help make a topic that seems quite dry to some enriching and interesting, with their learning resources helping you to make connections between what you're learning and the experiences you're having in your work place. In addition, any subjects that don't necessarily apply to your work place in particular, they guide you in drawing information from other businesses that it does apply to.

    10/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • Very well structured. All the information one would need for a complete and comprehensive understanding of the topics is all given on our online portal. Plus, your personal lecturer is always on hand to answer any and all questions you have. With a mix of one-to-one and telephone sessions, your progress and expectations after every session is uploaded onto the portal so you always know where you are, how you're doing and what you're doing next.

    10/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • The support I receive is adequate. My line manager is always quick to give feedback on the application of my knowledge, and suggests areas for improvement with the use of skills endorsements and Sense-owned MPP's which help identify areas for improvement. My area manager is also someone who checks in frequently, assessing how we're doing as I am one of the first in the charity to undertake this apprenticeship.

    9/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • The support I receive from Lifetime as a whole is fantastic. My lecturer, at the beginning of our sessions, gave me an email and a phone number for me to contact when I have any questions or problems, such as needing to reschedule an appointment or requesting a deadline extension. If my lecturer can't answer my question, she often directs me to the portal, where there is a forum full of people who have completed my course themselves or are on similar courses who can provide me with answers.

    10/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • The course itself helps me understand the tiny details of my job role, down to the theories that underpin certain behaviours in the work place and how we, as management, can capisalise on those behaviours to create a positive and productive work place. The more 'big picture' subjects help me with identifying how we as a charity can expand and develop to help those we support.

    10/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • Our charity often undertakes fun weeks and optional fundraising events that staff can take part in, one being the Ridgewalk that has just taken place, where volunteers can be sponsored by the public and walk a full 52 miles to raise money. For the fun weeks, there is the option to do these off-site, but mostly are done on-site.

    9/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend Sense to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • The support, the learning, the topics and the people are all wonderful and so far I've had such a good experience. There are options that Lifetime provide that are for everyone and whenever I get asked about apprenticeships, I always point them in their direction. Overall a fantastic company.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Sense?
  • Just go for it! Like I said in my previous question, even if they decide the course you're applying for isn't for you, they'll support you in finding the right course for you at your level so you can get the most out of your learning experience.


Details

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Customer Service

Middlesbrough

July 2019


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