What made you choose an apprenticeship with us?

After finishing my GCSEs at Vale Academy in Brigg, I decided the apprenticeship route was the best career path for me. I was excited when I saw the Functional Apprenticeship vacancy; it was too good an opportunity to miss. The vast amount of experience and knowledge I could gain through completion of the apprenticeship programme made the opportunity particularly attractive. I was keen to begin learning in the workplace through experiencing different roles within the Procurement department, as well as through the completion of an NVQ in Business Admin.

What are the top three highlights of your job?

There is a great variety of processes and products for me to develop my knowledge. Every day is different, making the role both challenging and enjoyable.

The opportunity to visit different site areas on a regular basis is extremely interesting. I love seeing how the work I do in the office directly impacts areas out on plant.

I have enjoyed building relationships with colleagues in Procurement. The support I have received from my first day in the business has made me feel comfortable and a valued member of the team.

What work have you been doing within the Procurement department?

The most recent experience I have had within Procurement has been in the Sundry Sales role. The Sundry Sales team receive requests from plant areas to sell items, ranging from coal to machinery, which they no longer require. Recently, I have been working with the Structural Workshops to sell redundant equipment and bring money back into the business. To date, this has generated significant savings – the work is still ongoing.

I have also been researching new companies to sell our products to and building relationships with external stakeholders both in the UK and overseas. I have enjoyed visiting different plant areas and broadening my knowledge of the business, plant areas and products we sell.

What advice would you give to any young people considering a career here?

I would encourage anyone considering a career here to grasp the opportunity! Working within such a large business that allows you to tailor your own career with the support of fellow colleagues is a rare and rewarding experience.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A policewoman – I then realised the press-ups in the police entrance fitness test would get the better of me!