Branch Hire Manager Review

Management of the tool hire department at BSS Smethwick (part of the Travis Perkins Group). Management of the team here, and proactively driving the progression of the hire business. Engaging with the sales team to make sure we are exploring all opportunities for driving this forward.

In terms of the apprenticeship, it's ironed out bad habits that 20+ years of tool hire has given me. The role itself has taught me how to work better with a much larger team (4 in tool hire, but 35+ for the branch). The course itself was a bit below where I should be at, however it's shown me what my colleagues will be doing and therefore helps me to better prepare them, and help them through what is expected.

The program itself was enjoyable, my only problems was a changeover of staff within branch led to a large struggle to keep up with the work. Technically I was doing the practical side of the work as it's my job, the issue was logging what I was doing. It is however much easier to set time for my colleagues to do theirs!

I think for my own it was a little messy due to a change of instructors mid way through. Plus it was early days in which the course has been about. I have however seen how it is now and it's improved massively. The only issue I'd say that still exists is the sudden influx of information upon starting the course, and how confusing it is for new starters. I'd also say that before the course starts, a clear conversation with management of when the course would like to be started would be beneficial. For instance with my colleague [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] both myself and the BM [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] had suggested a couple of months before [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] Starts his, however it was a sudden "it starts now, he's enrolled and next week is his first webinar" which was similar to myself when starting. I know exact start date has to follow with others starting theirs, however something along the lines of "these are the optional start dates for the apprenticeship, please pick" would be better suited.

As much support that is required, in which for myself wasn't much that was.

As much as required, and extra. Very supportive throughout with a positive attitude.

There wasn't really much learning as such, other than how these courses go and helping colleagues to then do theirs. As stated it irons out a few bad habits, but other than that it was an apprenticeship that ideally I should have jumped on to a level 3 and not a 2 as a "starter".

We do charity events, team activities and the occasional other events. Not much on a weekly basis though.

Yes

Out of all the places I have worked since leaving school, my job at BSS has seemed the most impressive to get into. The team mentality has been driven much better than other roles I have worked, along with less "us vs them" when it comes to departments working together. Some of this is of course having to be driven by myself too, however TP supports this much better than other places. Learning, careers progression, atmosphere as well as a few other reasons means that recommending TP is quite easy.

You'll get out of working here what you put in to it. Progression needs intiative to a degree, as with any aspects in life. However with TP there's opportunities there for the taking, go take it.