I left a full-time job in the insurance industry to study English Language and Creative and Professional Writing at university. I felt I had reached the highest peak of progression within the company and wanted to continue my learning journey.
I attended a career fair at the University of Wolverhampton and circled the room with the buzz of students hoping to figure out their future. A lot of the stands were for jobs that required a specific degree or opportunities with a short career path, soon I was ready to take my tote bag of sponsored pens and stress balls back to the dining hall.
On my way out I stopped by the Enterprise stand and asked the representative if they were looking for specific degrees as I hadn’t heard of their graduate scheme before. The representative assured me that Enterprise welcomes applicants with any degree subject, as it is the transferrable skills and competencies they are looking for, and I was able to, for the first time that day, pick up a leaflet and business card I would actually be reading again.
What attracted me the most to the Management Trainee programme was that everyone in the company started in the same position, learning the core areas of the business to be able to manage it as a whole, before following a career path that suited them most. The recruiter on the stand told me about her own career path and how Enterprise had encouraged her on her journey to make the most of her career. She explained how the company encourage women in leadership and consistently support females to bring out the best of their abilities.
Each step of the application process with the recruiter enabled me to learn more about the business, job role and meet more people who had chosen Enterprise for their careers. I was able to meet more successful women in different departments and at different stages of the programme, and find out about the events for women in leadership the company hold, their mentor programme and find out about the successful women that have made a difference to the company, including their female CEO. When passing through the recruitment stages I got constructive feedback on how I can show my best self at the next stage.
During my time as a Management Trainee, I was continually supported by the internal Women in Leadership Committee. I was able to attend networking and development events they held. I was asked to help others in areas I was stronger in and got advice and support from women in different roles and departments. This has helped me stay motivated throughout my career as I had an insight into the careers of women who had been successful, who had motivated others along the way and continued to learn.
I was given a female mentor who I was able to meet regularly and ask for advice in areas I was still figuring out and get another perspective of a successful female that was once in my position. It was someone I could confide in, always ask for advice and could have one-on-one time with.
I successfully completed the graduate programme within 10 months, continually being recognised for hitting targets, and was promoted to my first Assistant Manager position within the 3 months following. My first Assistant Manager role was under a female Branch Manager. It was inspiring to see her learn her role, train future managers and learn everything I could from her to improve my own managerial skills.
After 2 years and 1 month, I was promoted to Branch Manager. I had been to six women in leadership events and met new people throughout the group each time, developing relationships with people I may not have met if I hadn’t attended.
Since starting Enterprise, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many people who have helped me develop and grow my own confidence in each role I have progressed into. To get a career in a company with so many people that go out of their way to support my growth has been an amazing journey I feel lucky to have found and I continue to look forward to what the future brings.
Want to be part of a company that has made a true commitment to recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent? Search for our latest graduate jobs and internship opportunities in your area and see where we can take you on your career journey.