Why did you choose a Degree Apprenticeship?

I started working at McDonald’s 15 years ago as a Crew Member. Throughout my career I climbed the ladder and became a Business Manager in 2017. In all that time, I never entered higher education and learnt my role through the training set by McDonald’s. I knew that Degree Apprenticeships existed but didn’t know if I would be eligible. I saw the Degree Apprenticeships programme promoted around Christmas time 2019. Looking into it, I realised it was the perfect opportunity for me. I could study, work and gain a qualification at the same time. I spoke to my Operations Consultant about applying and he was very supportive and agreed to be my mentor and support me through the programme.

As I hadn’t been in education for a long time, I had to complete a non-standard entry assessment to see if I could work at degree level. Initially, I was apprehensive about it but then saw it as a challenge. The questions asked were about what I already had experience in. Writing it down just made it clear to me, that this is what I wanted to do. Fortunately, I was successful and then enrolled at Manchester Met in October 2020. 

The Degree Apprenticeship works in line with my current role, so it fits in nicely and doesn’t add too much pressure to my workload. My hope is that what I learn can be applied throughout our franchise group and make us stronger as a business. 

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

2020 and COVID-19 has seen multiple challenges for everyone. Studying is no exception. I have yet to meet my cohorts in person, as our studying has been online, but we have a group chat and are very supportive of one another – especially when there is an assignment deadline. 

Our cohort is a mix of organisations and not just McDonald’s. I enjoy this as it gives different perspectives from different businesses. We don’t always get everything right, so having views and perspectives from different organisations is a window of opportunity for how we could possibly improve, which is what the Degree Apprenticeship programme is all about. 

I’m not waiting to apply my new skills either. I have only finished one unit so far, but I am already putting into practice the skills that I have learnt. We have recently completed the unit ‘Operations and Technology Management’, and I have used what I learnt to develop my McDonald’s Business Plan for 2021. 

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

Having more knowledge provides me with a lot more confidence to do my job. There are always opportunities within the company to progress. I would also be open to secondments within the company. I like the teaching environment from both sides and would like to think I would do well. 

If there were further learning opportunities available in the future, I would want to take part. I’ve seen McDonald’s change and adapt as a company many times over my employment and I too would like to keep learning to enable me to change and adapt my skills.  

What impact has your Degree Apprenticeship had in the organisation?

As our course continues, I am confident that I can apply more of my learning to my role. My next unit is about ‘Managing People’ which I am very excited about, as people are the best resource we have.  

Would you recommend a Degree Apprenticeship?

I would definitely recommend the Degree Apprenticeship programme, especially if you have a lot of initiative and are a self-starter. If you are doing the role already, it is a no-brainer. If you are an assistant and want to be promoted, I would recommend it too. The Degree Apprenticeship programme gives you an in-depth insight into what running a business entails. 

Do you have any advice for future Degree Apprentices?

Do not be afraid to ask for help. I haven’t been in education for a very long time, so I was a little rusty. With my academic assignments, I have been asking recent graduates to read through them and offer suggestions for improvements. So not only have I benefited from having a fresh pair of eyes, but they also learnt a lot more about the company too through my research and work. Sharing knowledge is never a bad thing. 

Make the most of your teaching time. Write down any questions you want to ask for your next lesson. It might seem silly to you, but chances are other people are wondering the same things.  Engage, be curious, take part and make the most of it. 

Be organised and use the resources that the University has to offer. There is a lot of support available from the University, but nobody will know if you need help unless you speak up.  

Choose your mentor wisely. Make sure it is someone you trust and who will be supportive. Have someone that believes in your abilities.  

Most importantly, your success is down to you. If you are willing to put the work in, you will get what you want out of it. 

My Manager says….

“I’m really happy with Kim’s progress with her Degree Apprenticeship. Kim was keen to complete the course and did all the pre-work for the application on her own initiative before bringing me the suggestion. I knew Kim would succeed in securing a place on the course because she’s been so enthusiastic about it! I think the support that Manchester Met provide to the apprentices and their line managers is excellent and I’ve enjoyed engaging with the process so far too, through virtual meetings with Kim’s Skills Coach and via eAssessor. Having completed a skills scan with Kim already, I can see the benefit the organisation is getting from her participation. Kim has planned some activities to support her progress which will help the business at the same time. These include virtual training sessions and presentations. As the degree continues, I am confident we will continue to reap the rewards.”