Kitchen Designer apprentice Review
at Howdens
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Graphic Design, Marketing
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Review Submitted: January 2023
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
4/5
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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:
4/5
My role is a kitchen sales designer. I carry out surveys of properties to collect measurements, discuss design ideas and needs with the customers. I then come back to the depot to create a design on our CAD system. Invite customers back to go through their design and make changes and see samples until it is how they want. I get set sales target through out the month to aim for. I also assist with other designers and depot duties such as answering the phones, helping on the counter etc.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
Currently I am enjoying the apprenticeship a lot. It is challenging but also rewarding and satisfying to create designs and hit sales targets so i'm not very often bored. However the actual Didac set work and modules are quite tedious and don't seem to match a huge amount of relevance or to the same level as I expected and can be very repetitive but at least easy.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes learnt how to carry out Surveys using measuring equiptment and create to scale drawings.
Also learnt the CAD design system that I hadn't used before.
Learnt sales techniques and presentation skills.
Developed on customer service skills and how to build rapport with builder and customers in order to boost sales.
Also learnt the CAD design system that I hadn't used before.
Learnt sales techniques and presentation skills.
Developed on customer service skills and how to build rapport with builder and customers in order to boost sales.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
I was made aware it is quite a new apprenticeship which was made clear as there did seem to be some lack of knowledge from Didac which wasn't very reassuring and I didn't know what was expected of me by the end of the apprenticeship for quite a long time. However the modules are split into quite an easy enough structure and I can complete apprenticeship work as suits me and my schedule at work.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Feel reasonably supported, if i have any question or want help I feel they are quick and happy to help.
But also aren't overly controlling of how I do things and as long as I get everything done and don't struggle I have the freedom to complete work how I want to. Could do with more regular catch ups on how they feel I am progressing.
But also aren't overly controlling of how I do things and as long as I get everything done and don't struggle I have the freedom to complete work how I want to. Could do with more regular catch ups on how they feel I am progressing.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Have a meeting usually once a month to run through each module and gives me clear set tasks for each module and visit so I always know what I'm doing and if I struggle with anything he is very helpful. Seems to be quite organised in making sure i'm on track for the end date. Still feel a bit unsure with end assessment as it seems not many people have actually done it yet or have much feedback with what to expect and how to actually do well in it.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
I don't feel like it has actually helped me much with my role as I found a lot of the topics I was either already familiar with from younger years in school, or had learnt on the job through experience, or just felt irrelevant.
I think it could use updating to reflect the actual kitchen design role at howdens more and level 3 skills.
I think it could use updating to reflect the actual kitchen design role at howdens more and level 3 skills.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
They hosted a go kart competition withhin worktime for employees to attend which if you won you could go to Barcelona for the final competition i believe.
We also had a Christmas works party for us, went to a charity quiz as a howdens team.
But other than that i'm not familiar with.
We also had a Christmas works party for us, went to a charity quiz as a howdens team.
But other than that i'm not familiar with.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Howdens to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's a good job to progress in from what I can tell and is great for experience.
It depends on the person tho as I do find it can be quite high pressure especially for normal designers which can be stressful and seems to have a high workload for a small number of people and work takes the forefront in work - life balance.
It depends on the person tho as I do find it can be quite high pressure especially for normal designers which can be stressful and seems to have a high workload for a small number of people and work takes the forefront in work - life balance.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Howdens?
You need to be confident and focused on customer service as part of your skills to do well as it is a sales job so you need to be good at building relations with customers but more importantly builders as they bring repeat customs if they like you. You have to be motivated to reach sales targets.
