Quality Assurance and Training Lead Review

My role as a Quality Assurance and Training Lead involves delivering classroom training to new postmasters and their staff at the beginning of their journey partnering with Post Office limited. The role also includes delivering refreshing training to support existing postmasters to effectively and efficiently run their branches. In addition to this my role also involves overseeing and maintaining the resource center that holds the training documentation used to support Postmasters to run their branch day to day, including handouts, guides and working papers used to complete the role of both Quality Assurance and Training Leads, and the onsite trainers that work within the branches for training and deployment

Through the Business Administration apprenticeship, I have learned a lot of new skills, especially around project management. While for many of the skills, I was already using a form of these formal processes, I was completely unaware of this fact, and the apprenticeship has shown me how to develop these skills and use them better in the future have been a great experience

Overall I have found the experience to be very good, being able to work through the learning modules in a methodical and consistent way suits my learning style. I have been unfortunate to have been working through my apprenticeship during the global Covid 19 pandemic, which has resulted in unforeseen changes to my regional trainer, which was not ideal.

Generally I have found the programme to be very well structured. Each module was set out in bite sized chunks that were easy to access, understand and follow, making the learning experience far easier to complete alongside my day to day working routine. In addition to this I have found the monthly meeting with the trainer to be useful and well planned.

My employer has been fantastic throughout, from my direct line management right through to the department within my organization that oversees apprentices, there hass always been good communication, and understanding. This has included a willingness to set aside time for me to complete the workload, willingness to provide evidence of competencies for the modules as well as support in areas where my experience was limited

I have found the support from Lifetime to be fantastic. Although I was unfortunate enough to be completing the course when a global pandemic hit resulting in the trainers being furloughed, I found the communication from lifetime to be fantastic, the trainers have always made themselves available and have can not be faulted for their willingness to respond to questions, provide additional support and show flexibility for sessions when my day job has demanded last minute changes

Since starting the apprenticeship, my role has modified somewhat as a direct result of the current environment. This has men additional duties, and a shift in the amount of administration work required in my role. The qualification has proved to be invaluable in term of setting out standards that I now need to incorporate within the work I complete, specifically around document production and qualilty assurance areas.

I am not aware of any specific extra-curricular activities organized by my company, that's not to say that they do not exist, however I have a full schedule juggling work, family and my own extra curricular activities, that would not allow further additional activities at this time, even if they were available

Yes

I have worked for the company for a total of 12 years to date, and generally I have found that they are a good company to work for. Being a huge organization, there are so many aspects of work available and opportunities for learning and growth are available and encouraged. Without the support of the company, I would likely have never pursued the qualification, and feel that my prospects and opportunities to progress would have been restricted in the future.

I would say the best advice I would offer is to be keep an open mind to opportunities, everything is a learning opportunity and you will be surprised at what you can learn from those you come into contact with. I have found this especially true within the company, as people come from all walks of life and have a host of various backgrounds, that you would not expect, which leads to having a really diverse workplace, with interesting colleague with even more interesting stories. So keep an open mind and never stop learning.