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Tag: learning and development

Josh Marodeen – Apprentice Profile

Posted on by Ian Adams

We’re in conversation with Josh Marodeen, who currently works as a cleaner at the Q3 contract with Specsavers in Whiteley in Hampshire and has shown a keen interest to develop a career in business development.

To pursue his ambition, Josh now balances a dual role arrangement, sharing his time cleaning with Specsavers as well as working part-time as a business development apprentice with Q3. To help him in his business development role, Josh is pursuing a Sales Executive level 4 Business Standard Apprenticeship at Fareham college.

What have you learnt so far from this apprenticeship?

I have currently been on this apprenticeship since April 2023, and I have learnt a lot more information about sales and the corporate side of the FM business sector. I have been involved in some site visits for potential tenders, which I found to be extremely interesting, because it gave me an insight the variety of different organisations in which FM operates. I have also developed my interactive skills as I had to work with a range of stakeholders to complete tenders and build relationships with potential and existing clients. The apprenticeship and the support I get from my manager and team has made more confident to be more in the practical elements of the processes and decisions that I make to be effective in my role in business development.

What have you enjoyed about this apprenticeship?

I’ve enjoyed understanding the theory learning from college and I am able to relate this to the small team in which I work. It’s given me the opportunity to embed and build creative initiatives and  ideas to help promote Q3.

With my new-found confidence I’ve also enjoyed meeting people, both internally and externally. I have enjoyed attending college sessions as part of this apprenticeship, as it has enabled me to meet a range of people from different sectors and backgrounds, broadening my horizon on what business development looks like in other sectors.

I meet with my tutor Andrea regularly, and I have found these sessions of great benefit as I get feedback on my work so that I can continue to develop within my role.

What do you hope the apprenticeship will do for you?

I am hoping this apprenticeship opens a lot of future opportunities that match my skill set. I am hoping it solidifies my knowledge of the whole corporate world, by understanding the FM sector and how business development will continue to be a central part of Q3 future success. While Q3 is my employer of choice, I have a great love of football and I have an aspiration to combine my passion for the game with some kind of business development role in that sector.

Another aspiration is potentially being involved in sales within the football industry – understanding market value and spotting trends that could be translated effectively into revenue to help grow a football club.

Paul Courtney – Apprentice profile

Posted on by Ian Adams

We’re in conversation with Paul Courtney, an HR advisor, working as part of the central team at Q3. Paul is currently studying for the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management.

What have you learnt so far from this apprenticeship?
From completing the apprenticeship, I have found that my confidence and the understanding of employment law has grown, which has enabled me to speak to my HR Director more proactively in bringing any concerns to their attention with problem solutions to make changes and improve our services to the business. The apprenticeship has been balanced well with the delivery and what I am completing at work. Within our sector, we will often mobilise or demobilise teams through TUPE. This meant that I was able to combine knowledge from college, with practical experience through working with my Director in a practical manner.

What have you enjoyed about this apprenticeship?
I have really enjoyed embedding the new knowledge of this apprenticeship into my workplace. I struggled initially and I would find myself second guessing my guidance and support to both managers and employees on a range of HR subjects. However, the apprenticeship has taught me to step back and reflect more often. Another benefit of this apprenticeship for me, is it has supported me to build my own network of People Professionals from other sectors to gain insight and of course to ask those silly questions!

What do you hope the apprenticeship will do for you?
I came from the education sector (post 16), where I would be working with teams from a range of sectors who were supporting their own learners through an apprenticeship. So, for me, it felt strange to be on my own apprenticeship journey. I hoped that by completing my own apprenticeship, it would give me wider knowledge base and understanding on the employment differences between the education sector and my new sector of Facilities Management. As the business continues to grow, I would like to think I would be capable to step up into a HR Manager role.

Thanks Paul.

Apprentices – the next generation

Posted on by Ian Adams

Employing and developing the right people is the the key to success in any FM business and apprenticeships is a fundamental part of that strategy.

Those of you who are familiar with Q3 will know that our company name directly reflects our company values. The three Qs represent Quality people, Quality service and Quality workplaces, and are the foundation of our value proposition. These three values are totally intertwined of course, because without quality people Q3 can never expect to deliver quality services or create quality workplaces.

That’s why we place such great emphasis on finding the right people and creating the kind of environment where they can develop and flourish, both professionally and personally. Our apprenticeship programme is an important part of that strategy, providing the seed corn for the next generation of quality Q3 people.

Q3 currently has six apprentices who have taken the steps to further develop themselves within the sector and pursue their career aspirations. Although we are an FM business where you might expect the focus to be on trade apprenticeships, we have quite a diverse spread of apprenticeships in non-traditional areas, including HR, Finance, Sales and Team Leadership. We’re constantly encouraging employees to consider apprenticeships and have two new additions joining in the new Year.

Over the next few weeks, we will be celebrating the progress of the individuals who are part of our apprenticeship programme, to discover what they are gaining from the investment and how it is helping their career progression. We will also be talking to some of the managers and clients involved, to understand their roles in supporting the people in the programme. The consensus is that the apprenticeships have not only broadened the knowledge of the participants, but also boosted their confidence and independence, allowing them to accept greater responsibility, challenge the status quo and seek out more innovative solutions in their day-to-day activities.

First up, will be Paul Courtney who is pursuing the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management qualification.