Company: GXO
Role: Supply Chain Management Degree Apprentice
My current job is a Continuous Improvement and Planning Support Manager (it’s quite a long winded title I know!), and this is my full time role at B&Q Worksop! I applied for this after doing something similar on my apprenticeship placement at B&Q Redhouse. My job involves ensuring that project are run to the right standard on site. I do this by being involved with the operation as much as possible! Running different meetings and workshops around Continuous Improvement (CI) and the DMAIC framework that CI is heavily influenced on. I also cover the Planning Manager on site when he is away on holidays, which involves data collection, input, and analysis of the operations weekly figures.
Doing my initial research into the business before joining, I expected a lot of unique working opportunities. This expectation was definitely met, with my first two and half years at the company seeing me go into various departments across different sites. My first placement on the apprenticeship programme was at Trax Park on the Husqvarna contract. Initially I was placed into the operational side of things within the warehouse! This was valuable as I had never worked within the logistics sector before, so having this experience was vital to my understanding of the operation. After this, I took on some more senior tasks, such as managing the collection and inputting of targets for the parts and accessories department, along with other reports which I oversaw, such as the investigation and reporting of pick errors for the customer services department.
My second placement was on the B&Q contract at Redhouse distribution centre in Doncaster. Again, firstly going into the operation, but with a set checklist of each department and what I had to learn going into these departments, which was assigned to me by my line manager. This took my through the warehouse from goods in to goods out (and everything in between!). Through doing this, I has a unique opportunity to see the whole operation of a major distribution centre from all responsibilities from a Warehouse Operative all the way to an Operations Manager, giving me a good insight into how a distribution centre is run.
As the third year of my apprenticeship began, I took the opportunity to stay at Redhouse DC and go into the Continuous Improvement department, something which had took my interest from my first placement at Trax Park! This role gave me the opportunity into working alongside the CI Manager on projects on site, helping to guide them, and make sure that the projects were successfully implemented. I also took up doing some workshops on site with colleagues and CI champions to help generate ideas.
The think I enjoyed most about my apprenticeship was flexibility in choice around my placements and opportunities! The programme allows for a lot of choice into doing what interests you. Whether this is the operational side of things, health and safety, or, as in my case, continuous improvement. Working with your entry talent team and on site management you are able to explore these options! When I think about my future, I am most excited about the management of my own team and results, ideally within a Continuous Improvement team. Being able to run my own team and guide the results of this is something I definitely want to do, and being able to pass on any knowledge I learn from the experience I have in the future.
The advice I would give to apprentices joining the sector is to make sure to get out there and make as many connections you can with people! It will definitely help in the future. Take on any opportunities handed to you and pursue whatever interests you within the sector. Also, make sure to devote enough time to your University studies! Being on time with that part of the apprenticeship is essential.