Future talent

As part of National Apprenticeship Week we’re profiling colleagues across the business who are training as apprentices.

Both first jobbers and existing colleagues can use our apprenticeship training programmes to develop their skills and career at Royal Mail. 

Ben Brown and Rhys Smith-Allen, both procurement managers in London, recently started a Commercial Procurement & Supply Apprenticeship. They share their experiences below: 

How’s the programme going? 

‘The teaching has been great. We’re awaiting the results of our first exam. We both think it went well so cross fingers!’

How do you think the apprenticeship will help you in your role at Royal Mail?  

‘The knowledge we’re gaining will help us add more value to the procurement function in terms of output and ideas. We will also be able to make more informed decisions. This course is also a stepping stone to higher qualification in the future’. 

How does the course work? 

‘The course leader teaches us from the Farringdon office every couple of weeks, and with regular exams, it really keeps the pace up. There’s also a representative from the academy that keeps in regular contact with us throughout the course to ensure we have everything we need’.

What advice would you give someone thinking of doing an apprenticeship as part of professional development?

‘Apprenticeships are typically associated with school leavers, but they also offer a great opportunity for anyone looking at professional qualifications. An apprenticeship can offer a more flexible and guided route compared to self-study, as lessons are delivered by a training provider during working hours. It’s great to work for an organisation that realises the benefits of investing in its future talent’.

Recent changes to apprenticeships in England mean that anyone, regardless of age or past qualifications, can re-train or upskill as an apprentice.