Store Manager Review
at The Co-op
Degree Apprenticeship
Retail Manager
Weston-Super-Mare
Review Submitted: February 2025
Overall Rating
2.8 /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
5/5
-
Skills Development
2/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
1/5
Supermarket store Manager. Responsible for the day to day operation of a small supermarket.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I absolutely love it! I'll miss it when it's finished. I would love to do a Masters but that's not possible.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Too many to list. But it's changed my mindset and I've learnt things that are generally new even after a long career to date.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Has changed a bit since starting. The workload over Christmas is very unfair on those in retail and hospitality.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
My kind of role involves varied hours, weekends, late nights, early mornings, bank holidays, and most of Christmas. Not always compatible. Locally, my line managers haven't really engaged with the programme. Overall I get treated better by my employer than some others do with theirs, and I know my employer means well. But you can't help but notice that it's difficult when the day job requires high degrees of flexibility. Most disappointing is the fact that my own hours are only replaced with general staff hours. You're still expected to have 1 less management shift in store per week than other stores.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
The training provision is mixed to quite good. The university is decent, and my coach is absolutely excellent. But the workload of Christmas is grossly unfair. There are huge amounts of down time into he programme, with heavy submission deadlines in January.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
It does a little. But I'm very experienced in my role already. This will help me move on to other roles either inside or outside the organisation. My job used to be a skilled role and this would have been really useful. I'm not saying it's not as it is allowing me to change the way I deliver at work. But my role is increasingly become a box ticking role.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
1/5
I didn't know this was a thing? Work children, and the apprenticeship takes up so much of my time, I don't even partake in many other social activities outside of my work, let alone inside it. I can't even go on a proper holiday until it is finished, as most of my time away from work is spent writing assignments.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend The Co-op to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I like both my employer and the training provider. Both are generally good to me and I'm very greatful for them helping me to change my life. I adore this programme and really enjoy doing it.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to The Co-op?
Don't underestimate how much time and effort you have to put in!
Undergraduate Ethics, Sustainability, and Food Policy Coordinator
at The Co-op
- Placement (10 Months+)
- Manchester
-
4.7
