Upskilling warehouse operators to take on supervisory roles is high on the agenda for firms wanting to invest in their workforce and help employees reach their potential. One such individual is Senior Warehouse Partner, Craig Dadson, employed by John Lewis plc and working in a Waitrose warehouse in Aylesford. Craig recently completed the Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor (TWOS) apprenticeship – making him the first to do so in the company, and enabling him to secure a promotion.
Fuelling Aspirations
The apprenticeship has two pathways depending on whether leadership expertise is required in warehousing or transport. Craig followed the warehouse route, and completing the apprenticeship has fueled his effectiveness in the workplace and raised his aspirations. He has already secured a promotion from Warehouse Partner to Senior Warehouse Partner which is a lower management position. He now spends less time picking and packing, and more time managing tasks and challenges on the shop floor. He says:
‘I have a lot more responsibility and I am moving up through the ranks. This apprenticeship gave me a major advantage in securing my promotion. Before completing the programme I had applied for the position but was unsuccessful. Through my training with TRS however, I have gained the confidence and self-belief I need to work in a management role.
“Completing the course has had a direct impact on my proficiency in the job – from giving presentations to spending more time off the shop floor involved in meetings, giving me insight into the decision-making processes. I also cover for my manager and some of the higher managers who are part-time. These are the types of roles I would like to go for in the future.”
Experience underpinning theory
Craig harbours an ambition to progress his training journey onto a level 5 apprenticeship in management. He adds:
‘My trainer Catherine was fantastic. She increased my knowledge within a short time, and I wouldn’t have passed the exam without her. I like the concept of on-the-job training and getting the experience to underpin the theory learnt in the course. The TRS online learning platform worked well for me, even though I am not the most technically gifted.’
The Employer’s Voice
The Transport and Warehouse Operations Supervisor apprenticeship standard is seeing increasing demand from firms wishing to develop the skills of their staff to take on leadership roles. Participants learn how to interpret customer contracts, manage staff performance, monitor productivity, ensure compliance, plus improve resource planning and project management skills.
Tanith Dolan, Partner & Operational Training Manager at John Lewis plc says:
“This apprenticeship provides us with a framework for empowering our managers with the essential skills needed to lead our transport and warehouse operations effectively. TRS has worked with us to develop a tailored programme that reflects our organisational training objectives and is delivered flexibly to fit in with our operational schedules. We are already seeing positive results and recently celebrated our first members of staff completing their course.”
Helping the Logistics Sector
When they have completed the apprenticeship, participants can apply for membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). Many will progress to a level 5 qualification in Operations Departmental Manager.
Apprenticeships are highly relevant in the logistics sector, where industry skills to do the job are paramount. Alongside this, investing in staff not only addresses skills shortages, it boosts staff loyalty. Businesses investing in training with TRS will benefit from improved quality standards.
