Why did you choose a Degree Apprenticeship?

Before I became an apprentice, I was a Crew Member at a McDonald’s restaurant.  I discovered the opportunity for the degree apprenticeship by asking my line manager if McDonald’s offered apprenticeships, as I had finished high school and was looking for a route into a degree-level education. I wanted to earn a new qualification to improve my employability and also learn more about the industry I was currently working in. The Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship offered the qualifications I sought with a perfect blend of classroom and vocational learning, which is my preferred learning style.

Looking back over your time (so far), how have you found the whole experience?

When reflecting on my time on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, I would summarise it as, challenging, demanding but ultimately rewarding. The course requires a lot of hard work for me to reap the rewards. However, it is a worthwhile investment as I have learned more than I ever expected to, and I have greatly improved my knowledge of the wider industry and my management skills in practice.  McDonald’s provides a thorough management training programme, but the degree apprenticeship has allowed me to view management from new and different perspectives which, in my opinion, has given me a distinct advantage in accelerating my development.

There is ample support from the university, and I have numerous academic experts that readily answer course-specific questions, but I also have a designated skills coach. My skills coach checks in on me on a regular basis to ensure I am getting on well, which is a calming relief. It is also reassuring to know that if I ever had any technical difficulties then there is a wide range of virtual support on offer, from the IT department to the library services.

On a typical day, I will work at my restaurant focusing on operations over peak sales hours then in the afternoon I will go into an office and work on my assignments or weekly activities. I can access all the university resources from my laptop, making distance learning a breeze.

How are you hoping a Degree Apprenticeship will support your career progression?

The degree apprenticeship is in line with McDonald’s management progression. Since being on the programme, I have already been promoted from a Crew Trainer to a Shift Manager, to now a Second Assistant Manager. I hope to continue this path and continue with my progression at McDonald’s and hope to be promoted to a First Assistant Manager within the next 12 months then to a Business Manager. In this role, I will be in charge of the operations of a restaurant and managing and leading all the staff within it.

The Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship programme has taught me transferable skills such as time management, communication and professionalism. These skills, and my years of management experience, along with a degree and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) status will make me a great candidate for any future management positions.

What impact has your Degree Apprenticeship had in the organisation?

I have learned about project management and employee motivation in good detail already in my first year of the degree apprenticeship. This has helped me to set up projects within my restaurant as well as motivate my staff to achieve their own project targets. This has led to improvements in various KPIs such as our speed of service, customer satisfaction and our restaurant’s bottom line!

Would you recommend a Degree Apprenticeship?

For anyone looking for great qualifications along with real work experience, then I would strongly recommend a degree apprenticeship. A degree apprenticeship offers a unique experience and provides several advantages including increased flexibility, a strong support structure and the opportunity to put your academic education directly into practice in your full-time work.

Do you have any advice for future Degree Apprentices?

Firstly, time management is the most valuable skill to learn as early as possible. There are plenty of resources available online to help with this, but I would recommend planning everything at least a month ahead in advance. If you plan ahead then you can ensure you have set enough time aside for university and full-time work deadlines. This is a fundamental skill that enables you to maintain a healthy work, life, and education balance.

Secondly, I would ask for help. In the first year of the degree apprenticeship, it can be extremely overwhelming for a student and full-time employee. The degree apprenticeship team at the university is there to help you and ensure you use their support as much as you need to. Furthermore, you are not alone in this experience, connect with your fellow apprentices and stay in touch. You can bounce ideas from one another and support each other throughout the journey you are all on.

Anything else that strikes you as interesting or important to add?

Thanks to being on my degree apprenticeship, I have been promoted to a high level of management within my restaurant. This fast progress up the McDonald’s career ladder has opened up several doors for myself, including being involved in visits to the McDonald’s Head Office in London, as well as being trained in my restaurant for even further management such as running my own restaurant one day.

Find out more about our Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.