Management Apprentice Review

I am a trainee deputy manager on my final year of the apprentice scheme. My daily tasks include operating a till while managing my queue length and making sure I hit 1000 times scanned per hour while giving 100% customer service. I must put out stock off deliveries and make sure that any extra or missing stock is accounted and claimed for while hitting the pallet speed targets. I must make sure that the store is tidy as possible at all times and that customers have 100% availability of our stock to the best of my control. I must make sure that I speak to my staff respectfully when asking them to carry out tasks and make sure they're all happy at work. I must make sure that when I am handling the safe it doesn't exceed the amount of cash it's allowed to hold. I must make sure that all change is declared to the cashiers when they need it and it is all put down on the system and if there till is down at the end of the shift help investigate where that money has gone. I must make sure that there is no out of date stock for sale on the shop floor and that if there is it is taken off sale immediately and disposed of before claiming for it on the system.

I went into this apprenticeship with zero retail knowledge and now I know how a successful business is run, how to treat staff, how to treat customers. All the skills I learnt are the things I do on a day to day basis at work.

The program exceeded my expectations I didn't think it'd give me so many skills that I could not only use in work but also outside of it.

Yes I feel like a valued member of staff and appreciate that apprentices can't be moved stores which many staff get moved all over the region and there isn't anything they can do about it.

First year typical training such as tills and pallet speeds the company is good with but when It comes down to management training it has room for improvement. I am not a very pushy person, so when it came down to my management training I didn't receive any until I made a complaint. I think a deputy manager or assistant manager should be in charge of your personal training and not the store manager, the store manager has too many jobs where a deputy has most likely had their training more recently and will know how to pick up new skills when still learning. Once you start the management level of this apprenticeship it should be structured for every apprentice to have one month of learning a set department and a month for the next. I e first month learning banking and safe handling, second month availability and staff monitoring and so on you have a month or a couple weeks to focus on each skill then move on.

My training provider Middlesbrough college are really amazing, lovely working environment, extremely helpful staff that work around your needs.

My manager is good with making sure the rota matches my needs to see my assessor and to do the training I need.

This apprenticeship is paid very well, unlike most that are £90 a week, Aldi pay you hourly so you can really feel the benefits of putting in the over time at work. I'm lucky enough to be in walking distance of my store, but the company is very good with paying travel expenses which helps when I got a train to and from college to complete the theory work for this apprenticeship.

The company is very good with letting you have a social life. If you book the time off in advance, you will get that time off so there is never downfall of missing family events like weddings and christenings or your friends birthdays. The staff and management in the stores are very pleasant and if you didn't book the time off work for an event many staff will swap their shifts around with you. That's the bonus of not having a set Rota every week you have different days off so different opportunity's to engage in. Company events are always a laugh, whether it's going out for a meal and a few drinks with all the staff or going for a 26 mile walk to Whitby for charity.

Yes

It is a company that is full of friendly and hard working staff that will help you develop your skills to the fullest. Unlike other companies you do not have a set department so there's always something different to do which stops your days at work becoming repetitive and tedious. Also a bonus is the uniform is well designed and you don't have to wear them embarrassing bright green fleece jackets that Asda do.

Just be yourself, if you're applying for a job like this you must be a people person, so in your interview smile, laugh, ask questions show that you're friendly because that is the main key to this job, the company will train you to do the rest. Good Luck