A little about Luke’s apprenticeship…
Apprenticeship Title
Level 6 Sales Chartered Management
Job title and employer
Strategic Revenue Management at MARS Wrigley
What are 3 skills you’ve learned so far?
Presenting
Analytics
Networking
What are 3 interests outside of work?
My motorbike
Rock Climbing
Skiing
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What inspired you to choose an apprenticeship as your next step?
I always knew university wasn’t right for me, as I always wanted to get hands on in the world of work. Once I began earning a living and seeing my professional development, I felt assured this was the right step, as I'll have the network and skills at the end of my apprenticeship, to go further and higher in the corporate world.
What kinds of things do you get up to in your role? Any tasks you especially enjoy?
- Monitoring competitor pricing in the FMCG category
- Contributing to the pricing of our portfolio of brands in a 5 year horizon
- Collating data and driving insights to benefit key stakeholders
What’s been the standout highlight of your apprenticeship so far?
My previous rotation was in Customer Demand Planning and I found this really rewarding once I had actually stuck my head into the nitty gritty of the job. Being able to confidently amend and adjust the plan and provide my own insights based on previous market data was so empowering. Seeing this play through into the total business year end number made it feel real.
"My work had such a massive impact on the total business."
Have you come up against any challenges during your apprenticeship, and how did you navigate them?
The big challenge for me was not being able to jump straight into it. I had to remind myself, I just came from A-levels before working and I won't know everything. Now even more that I've rotated into a new role in the business, I feel as though I’m back to square one! It's a constant battle with myself to resist the urge to take on work, which I don’t know how to complete. I should be taking a step back, being a sponge and soaking up as much as I can before putting my full self into a project.
What’s helped you feel supported during your apprenticeship?
Other apprentices! No one knows your situation more than a fellow apprentice. They've faced it all and it’s a nice feeling to know they're thriving alongside you. I'm lucky to work with other apprentices my age.
"We support each other to all be as successful as we can."
What moment made you realise you’d made the right decision choosing an apprenticeship?
I knew from my first day that the apprenticeship programme was the right decision. Getting to know what my roles and responsibilities would look like inspired me to be my best professional self. I also knew it was right, when MARS reassured us they wanted apprentices on board for a fresh outlook on things, and I felt empowered to bring new insights from a different perspective to my teams.
Connect with Luke!
Here at Visionpath, our Ambassador Community is more than just a network, it’s a movement. Our ambassadors are current and former apprentices who are passionate about making a difference by sharing their real-life journeys to inspire the next generation.
Are you a current or former apprentice who wants to get involved in the movement? Email ambassadors@visionpath.co.uk to get started.
