What motivated you to ask your employer to support your Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship?

After visiting several local universities, I started to investigate degree courses in business management, marketing and sales. My interest in this area is due, in part, to my experience working for the Parogon Pub Group where I developed a keen interest in how a business operates, how brands are built and what makes a business engage and serve their customers to drive profits.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself working alongside studying for my A-levels, building both relationships within the workplace as well as developing key life skills. This was an aspect I didn’t want to leave behind therefore was left wondering if a full-time degree course suited me.

Degree Apprenticeships were a relatively new concept in which many people, employers, schools and institutes didn’t offer as a route. Therefore, I took it upon myself to dive deeper to explore this option.

Researching Manchester Met I discovered they were one of the only universities to host frequent open evenings and events allowing apprentices to speak about their experiences as well as giving both employers and employees the opportunity to find out more about the Degree Apprenticeship courses on offer. With all the Manchester Met Degree Apprentices speaking so highly of the course and its benefits to them both personally as well as for the companies they worked for, I walked away motivated to speak to my General Manager to share the information I have gathered. He further encouraged me to present my idea to the director, Richard Colclough, about perusing this idea and whether the Parogon Group would provide a Degree Apprenticeship role.

Thankfully, the response I gained was extremely positive and enabled me to arrange a meeting with Rich to give further insight into what this opportunity would bring.

How did you decide which Degree Apprenticeship was right for you?

I was inspired by the broad range of topics covered throughout the four-year Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. The pathway allows you to explore so many different business and management areas whilst working simultaneously to gain relevant work experience. This really appealed as working within the hospitality sector I didn’t want to be tied down to a ‘hospitality based’ degree.

The four-year course seemed a daunting aspect when I initially began looking into options however, it is not until I fully read the units studied that I realised the wealth of experience and knowledge I will hopefully have gained by the time I have completed the course will be extensive.

Coupled with this I was really drawn to the accredited benefits which are on offer with this Degree Apprenticeship. Not only is the chance to achieve a degree by a well-respected university on offer, but the concept of being able to apply for a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) status would also be hugely respected.

How have you found the support at Manchester Met and from your employer?

The effects of COVID-19 meant starting the course during a national lockdown. Despite this both, the Parogon Group and Manchester Met have been incredible with their support, communication and frequent engagement throughout the challenging times.

Engagement with Parogon in the initial first weeks of my studies was forced fully online through phone calls, video chats and regular emails. All the departments within the business I required the relevant insight from were extremely supportive of my new role within the company and I felt warmly welcomed by their desire to engage and assist me along the way.

Similarly, with Manchester Met, I started the course completely online which was an extremely nerve-wracking concept. However, this soon settled, all the lecturers, skills coaches and teams at the University cannot do enough to help and provide support in any way they can. Also, an aspect I have enjoyed is being able to virtually meet new people in my cohort, despite all engagement with the course being all online-based, Manchester Met has been keen for us to interact with each other, network and make new friends.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your role in the hospitality industry?

Due to COVID-19 having great impacts on the hospitality industry, the pandemic has meant that pub closures have forced me to be furloughed and restrictions placed upon the sector provide ongoing challenges for my everyday role which I have been able to learn to adapt to, a key attribute for managers to acquire.

However, as an individual and a company, we have been able to navigate our way through the challenging times. Innovative decisions have been taken throughout the closures such as the group’s choice to place me and colleagues upon an external management/leadership training course, specifically designed for laying the foundations for Parogon Group’s ‘reboot’.

The skills and knowledge learnt allowed me to put into practice the knowledge I was gaining from my Degree Apprenticeship helping to provide development within my role and increase my confidence for when the doors finally reopened.

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

Throughout the four-year course of my studies, I hope to seek progression and further development within the group. Rotation around the company will allow for opportunities to explore new areas of the business and I hope that this will help form a long-term career plan.

I am excited by the opportunities in which working for an upcoming, enterprising company like Parogon brings and I hope that I can inspire others within the group as well as externally to take up a similar pathway with studying alongside full-time work.

Would you recommend a Degree Apprenticeship?

I would highly recommend Degree Apprenticeships to anyone considering.  Although I am only one year into the programme, I have really enjoyed all aspects of the studies so far and have felt supported by both Parogon and Manchester Met.

The studies alongside working a full-time job can at times be challenging therefore it is important that you stay organised and manage time well to meet both work and university deadlines.

Earning a full-time wage coupled with no tuition fees is an obvious benefit to highlight however to me the on-the-job experience and skills in which I am gaining whilst studying for this accreditation are the essential benefit for building future career progression.

What advice would you give to others who are currently employed and are interested in a Degree Apprenticeship with Manchester Met?

If you don’t ask you don’t get, I suppose!

Despite being a quiet and relatively shy character, the confidence I have gained through working has enabled me to tackle situations such as when approaching head office about this idea initially.

I understood that Parogon offered staff development programmes as well as existing NVQ training options in place, however, didn’t explore the option of Degree Apprenticeships.

I simply believe this is because they aren’t talked about enough as an option for businesses. Therefore, for anyone who is currently employed and in a similar situation to myself with regards to approaching their company about this opportunity, I’d say go for it! It may seem a daunting prospect but it may open up a fantastic opportunity to be pursued.

For me outlining and discussing the benefits of a Degree Apprenticeship for both the group and the individual during the initial meetings was a great way to persuade the employer that the option hosts great benefits to both the employer as well as the apprentice.

My Manager Says

Leah’s drive in her work is superb. Deadlines are met, objectives met and overall pleased to see Leah improving in most aspects of her role.

Whilst on shift Leah does demonstrate resilience with customer issues, staff issues and operational issues. Finds solutions and gains valuable feedback on where this could have been improved or changed.

She is definitely a sponge and soaks up all information given. I’ve no doubt that she will be and is so far very capable and very successful in her role and in her qualification.

Leah is a model employee who strives to be the best in all areas of work. Fair and consistent and is someone who we can show as an asset to the site and company

Steve King, General Manager