Branch Assistant Review
at Booker Wholesale UK
Placement (10 Months+)
Business Operations, Consumer Products/FMCG, Retail Manager
Manchester
Review Submitted: October 2025
Overall Rating
4.9 /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!
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
Additionally, my work in stock control and merchandising helped enhance the in-store customer experience and supported efficient inventory management. I also played a key part in reducing waste and improving product accessibility by redesigning layouts for the confectionery and grocery departments and implementing a system to monitor and manage expiry dates. This not only optimized shelf turnover but also supported profitability and sustainability goals.
Beyond routine tasks, I supported the team by training a new joiner, which helped maintain operational continuity and built team capability. My involvement in retail development visits further aligned with the company’s broader strategic goals of market understanding and business expansion.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
As the year progressed, my responsibilities remained consistent but expanded in scope. In addition to my regular duties, I was given the valuable opportunity to accompany the Retail Development Manager on market visits to acquire new franchise for Bookers Convenience store like Premier and Family Shoppers. This experience allowed me to gain insights into retail development strategies, customer engagement, and competitor analysis like Bestway and perfett, providing me with a broader understanding of the business beyond day-to-day operations.
Overall, the placement has not only met but exceeded my initial expectations. I expected to learn about internal store operations, but the exposure to retail development activities added significant value to my professional growth. It gave me a more holistic view of how different departments work together to drive business success.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
1. Visual Merchandising.
2. Professional Conduct and communication skill in a professional world.
3. Time management and Task priority that affect the core areas of business.
4. Revenue Generation and product performance mapping.
5. Customer representation skills.
6. Retail floor management.
7. Performance management.
8. Data analysis and report management skills
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
In addition to that, I was entrusted with managing the layout and organization of the confectionery and grocery departments of the Branch. This involved planning effective merchandising strategies, optimizing shelf space, and establishing systems to monitor expiry dates and reduce stock wastage (Effectively management of FEFO i.e First Expire First Out. I also implemented practices to ensure better product availability, contributing to an improved customer experience.
These added responsibilities provided me with hands-on experience in operational planning, team support, and retail strategy—skills that are highly valuable for my long-term career goals