Ben – Team Leader / Supervisor Level 3 Apprenticeship – Optimum Skills

Ben’s career journey with Optimum Skills started back in August 2021 when he realised he was ready for a career change after the Covid pandemic. Having previously completed Business Administration Level 2, Ben had found himself in a Customer Service role with minimal progression and knew it was time to find a career he could really develop in.

Ben joined the team as a Receptionist Administrator and has since progressed to Data & Compliance Manager, overseeing his own team at our Gateshead Construction Academy in The Skills Place. His development was supported through upskilling with an apprenticeship.

In 2022, Ben had been in his Receptionist Administrator role with Optimum Skills for just 6 months when he had the opportunity to move into the Data & Compliance department as a Data & Compliance Officer, after proving his skills and dedication to the role. Ben enjoyed his new role as a Data & Compliance Officer as it gave him more insight into the business;

“It was good to understand the education sector and realise how much effort goes into supporting courses and running a Training Provider.” – Ben

Throughout his time as a Data & Compliance Officer, Ben was able to build new skills and a better understanding of his department and the industry. Two years into his role, two more Data & Compliance Officers had joined the team in Construction, and it was clear a leader was needed to oversee this growing team.

Ben had shown the right knowledge and accountability to lead a team, so naturally fit into the role. Although Ben had never led a team before, Optimum Skills was able to offer Ben the training and support needed to nurture his management and leadership capabilities. Ben was enrolled on to the level 3 team leader apprenticeship and our EMpowerU programme to continue to develop his skills.

Ben was optimistic about signing up for the team leader apprenticeship, he felt he had a lot to learn about management theories and the knowledge around being a team leader such as making the right decisions and leading a team to success.

“I was looking forward to not just improving my skills, but my team as well. I was more than happy to take on the opportunity and grow into the role.” – Ben

The EMpowerU programme, delivered in partnership with Tribero, is designed by Optimum Skills to support our aspiring leaders and managers to develop confidence and emotional intelligence through expert training.

“The EMpowerU programme helped me with my emotional intelligence, and I was able to use what I learned in my role, whilst gaining evidence for my apprenticeship. There was an overlap with the theories, and this helped me learn in depth about each one, and use my knowledge in the workplace.” – Ben

Ben enjoyed the hub days and getting some time with his tutors to go through theory and for them to check work to make sure he’s on the right path, ready for his End Point Assessment.

“I felt a bit nervous about EPA, but the EPA external assessor was very reassuring. I felt optimistic about the EPA, although I hadn’t done an exam in five year, but I was excited to show all the hard work I’d done and prove that I could actually do it.” – Ben

Ben was very successful in his qualification achieving a distinction, he felt like he smashed his professional discussion. Ben had hoped for a pass but was really happy to learn he had achieved a distinction, showing his hard work had paid off.

“It was a good experience, I was learning how to be a team leader while doing the apprenticeship, when I look back at when I first started in the role, from behaviour to skills and how I react to things. It doesn’t just improve your team; it also improves yourself.” – Ben

“I have been Ben’s line manager for over a year now and I have been impressed and proud of his development as a leader for the Data and Compliance team. He was relatively new in his role and new as a manager, which can be overwhelming, at the time he showed his passion to become a good manager. Over the year he has developed his organisational skills, people skills, and his understanding of his management responsibilities. The EMpowerU programme had a big influence on his development as he had the opportunity to understand how others and his behaviours can have an impact on himself and his team. Ben’s maturity and professionalism has shone and he is an integral part of the management team. It’s a pleasure to manage him.” – Chris, Ben’s Manager

Ben wants to continue to prove his own skills and see where it takes him. Ben feels he is a young leader and wants to continue in his development to see where this career can take him.