Name: Emily Mouncey
Company: Edmund Bell
Job Title: Was Purchasing Assistant, now Junior Purchase Planner
Apprenticeship: Level 3 Business Administration
What is your job role?
When I started working at Edmund Bell my training consisted purely of learning various administration processes in order to become the key team member to provide admin support for the Purchasing team. This meant I began learning their system, gaining relationships with suppliers, slowly starting with UK suppliers and expanding to China, Europe, etc, and working alongside various other departments such as Sales, Accounts and Marketing.
It has now broadened to not only providing admin support for various departments, but also learning how to forecast sales and demands for a wide range of products and supplier accounts that I am now the main contact for, also dealing with importing and exporting, and developing into a Planners role to eventually become fully qualified and experienced in buying and merchandising.
Why did you choose an Apprenticeship?
I had originally completed my A-levels in 2018 and had an offer confirmed on results day at the University of Leeds to study sociology, however at the last minute I decided I wanted to start gaining experience in a fast pace business environment and work my way up at a company with hopes of studying alongside working to try and set myself apart from other candidates for future jobs.
I wanted to start an apprenticeship to try and get my ‘foot in the door’ and gain various contacts in the business world as I had limited experience, due to studying and working part time in retail. I also felt that as an 18 year old girl, I had no confidence within myself to start off working in the business world and felt like I needed the support from Rochdale Training to help monitor my progress whilst I was studying and finding my feet with the decision of what career I wanted to pursue.
What did you learn, and how has it helped you?
I have learnt so many different key qualities academically through my studies, professionally regarding the appropriate workplace etiquette for example, and personally. My confidence levels and communications skills came hand in hand and were the first two key skills that I developed in order to secure myself a promotion and gain a permanent contract at my company with hopes of studying my Procurement and Supply qualifications within the next few months.
Would you recommend an Apprenticeship to someone else?
I would thoroughly recommend the Apprenticeship route to anyone who feels that they would benefit from studying and gaining key working experience at the same time, as I do feel like in today’s society, there is a lot of emphasis and pressure on students to go to University and study courses for a career they have no experience of working within.
An Apprenticeship gives you the chance to explore different careers and work in various departments that sometimes, you would never even know existed as a student. It also helps to progress you personally and gain attractive attributes to employers that will set you apart from other candidates for future job roles.
Did Rochdale Training meet your expectations?
Rochdale Training exceeded my expectations as a training provider for both myself and my employer, which has been reflected the progress that I have made as their student. Their constant monitoring of your progress both in your studies and in your job role through their monthly check-ins, emails, etc, sets them apart and I have no doubt that my tutor Vicki Cunningham was a staple in my success at Edmund Bell.
