Project support officer Review
at The Co-op
Degree Apprenticeship
Customer Service
Manchester
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
3.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
2.8/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I work in the retail support centre on a project team to roll out bakery equipment into stores. The role involves each stage of the planning and implementation of installing new kit. I communicate with stakeholders, suppliers and stores daily, in meetings and on phone calls. There's lots of trouble shooting dealing with issues that arise daily and keeping a smooth relationship from stores to the rsc
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
I enjoyed it a lot more before covid. The virtual learning is really difficult and trying to stay focused despite all the additional workload in food stores has been almost impossible. This last 12 months has not been enjoyable at all and it will be a good day when we can return to the face to face learning
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I've definitely improved my excel skills despite already being computer literate. I have become a lot more comfortable talking to people, especially those above me and that I've not met before. I've been able to share my learnings with my colleagues too, helping us all improve with personal development
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Our course leader Sarah brown is fantastic and she really helps us be our best. The issues seem to come from poor communication from the business to the university making they are setting teams without the knowledge of how busy we are making life really stressful. Several drop outs could have been prevented
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
It is very line manager dependant. I've have now been through 4 different line managers and 2 have been very supportive, 1 okay and 1 terrible. The amount of effort that goes into their 'induction' has dwindled a time has gone on by the University and now they can't access information they need
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
As much as we need really but we have to ask for it. Sometimes it feels like we're left a little bit too much alone and then that's what causes excessive drop outs. The personal tutors give excellent support but again this is really quite infrequent especially when we're so isolated from learning
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
It gives me a better overview of things. I think before the course I was very bogged down in the day job and the course has helped me see the wider picture and look at it from a different perspective. This also then helps with the mental health aspects of the job
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
Not during covid. In stores there's lots of things going on in the community to get involved in but it still depends on your line manager and community colleagues. At the support centre there is a gym which has free access by again this has been closed during covid restrictions
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend The Co-op to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's the best employer I've ever worked for. They give you so many opportunities to develop and everything is done so fairly. In my last company you had to be one of the favourites to get ahead but everything here is really inclusive and if you've got talent and are willing to try, no one stops you
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to The Co-op?
Look into the business. Like really research the history of the coop and what makes it different. There's no where else like it and you'll be grateful of making the change. If you have the right behaviors anything is possible so think about your attitude towards things at interview
Undergraduate Ethics, Sustainability, and Food Policy Coordinator
at The Co-op
- Placement (10 Months+)
- Manchester
-
4.7
