Assistant Branch Merchandiser & Space Planner Review
at Matalan
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Knowsley
Review Submitted: January 2024
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
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
3.4/5
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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:
3/5
Analysis of stock levels & sales performance across Matalan's retail store estate, to ensure effective stock placement, with the aim of maximising full price sales and minimising markdown.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
Overall, I enjoyed the apprenticeship, however I did sometime feel that the content between Online Learns & Live Events was disjointed, and the delivery of the live content was inconsistent.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
Built upon some existing SQL & Power BI Knowledge.
Learnt some theory around data governance & relevant legislation.
Learnt some theory around data governance & relevant legislation.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
I often felt that I received different advice/ instruction from one of my colleagues completing the same course - we had the same DLC, but mostly attended different Live Events. Some of the delivery of the Live Events was very poor - leaving learners in breakout room for long periods, without assistance.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Employer has been very supportive. I have been able to work on my apprenticeship, and take time out for Live Events, whenever necessary. Also had quarterly catch-ups with HR rep to provide feedback on the programme, which would be passed onto the provider on our behalf.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
EPA readiness checks every 12 weeks, however I felt that these were more of a 'check-box' exercise/ admin requirement than for actual support. I was able to book in for a support call with my DLC whenever needed, and also message via BUD, to which I got very prompt responses.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
Some new SQL & BI Skills gained, which will help with report building & analysis. I have a better awareness of data policies within Matalan, however this does not directly impact my role. I have also gained theoretical knowledge about the Data Analytics Lifecycle & project planning tools (e.g. MoSCoW).
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Yes - always plenty of social events going on through work.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Matalan to a friend?
No
Why?
Delivery of some Live Events was erratic & difficult to follow. When asking for help, we were simply given solutions rather than guidance on how to get to the answer. Considering some of the Live Events towards were 5 days long, they didn't feel a productive use of my time.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Matalan?
Look at the full course content first & check that it is all relevant to your role. I understand that the course is attended by learners from different businesses, so the content needs to cover a variety of subjects, but from speaking to others on Live Events they agreed.
