Section Leader Review

I work in an Asda living which is a small/medium non food store. I help to run the shop and I manage around half the colleagues who work at our store. I also manage wages, waste and promotions. I manage the rota, reviews, absence and training for my team.

The apprenticeship has opened my mind and expanded my knowledge of the business. Instead of thinking just about store level I can see why and how things are changed by my company for each store. I also picked up knowledge around negotiation and I have used this in store with my colleagues to much success.

The programme is really varied and diverse. We have gone into detail on so my subjects and all the different tutors have been amazing and fun. It has been great to tap into their knowledge. Networking and making friends at other stores who are on the course is also an amazing part of this program. We all keep in touch and help each other out.

Manchester metropolitan university have been so good to use. They really understand the pressure we have been under doing a degree and working full time at Asda in a pandemic. They worked ahead and gave us extra lessons or online chats before the assignments were due to explain what they were looking for.

This is a little harder. I was receiving a lot of support in my old store and it was my previous store manager that gave me a great recommendation to sign up for this course.

They really fully support me. They ask what type of grade you are looking for and then explain how much work would go in to get that grade and fully explain what they need you to show. The skills coach is our lifeline and she gets to us the right person when we need help.

It has helped me to think about how other people see things and take that into account when giving people an answer. It has also helped me to stop future talent in store and help and support them to move forward with Asda and with the large number of training courses you can go on.

Asda have so many events going on. I sometimes volunteer to go out with the community champion and we take gifts to places in need like food banks as well as to local schools, drs and nurses. Asda also sponsor a large number of Pride events in the U.K. and I love to help out with that as well.

Yes

Asda has so many opportunities. I started on the checkouts on 8 hours a week after being out of work for 2 years following a back operation. I have been to the USA on a paid trip for a week, been to a golden quarter conference and got to go to University which Asda are paying for. All of these things a lot of colleagues what to do, so you have to stand out and really go for it but it can happen if you are determined.

Take any role even if just a few hours. There is always overtime somewhere and it’s easy to gain extra permanent hours once in the business. Be flexible and be honest. I don’t even working Wednesday evening as I play games with friends. My manager knows I dislike this night but I could work if needed to. It’s been over a year and I haven’t worked one, but my flexibility is there as she knows I would work if needed.