Daniel Alfred recently completed his Level 4 Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship through Oxford Professional Education. Read on as Daniel shares insights into his apprenticeship and how it has positively impacted his role.
What was your background before starting your apprenticeship?
My previous experience was in Accounting, Finance, CRM and Software Quality Assurance Engineer.
Why did you decide to sign up to the apprenticeship?
To expand my knowledge on the procurement and Supply chain process overall. I also wanted to become more knowledgeable on other areas such as; Policies, Legislations, Standards, Sustainability, ESG, Responsible sourcing , Contracting and Negotiation etc.
How did you find studying an apprenticeship?
I have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of my apprenticeship! However, this was not a smooth journey to start with as it was very challenging to manage and juggle family, work and studies. But there is no pain without gain!
How does the apprenticeship support your daily work?
It has helped to develop my thought process and allowed me to think outside of the box by applying my knowledge learnt in actual practice. I am now able to look at the whole picture from start to end process.
Tell us about the company and what your job role involves?
I work for Wasabi Sushi and Bento which is a QSR business that has it’s own restaurants as well as serving grocery stores such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Co-op. My role here is a Procurement Manager and I manage a number of categories such as: Soft Drinks, Desserts, Snacks, Pre-packed, Dry Goods (Seaweed), as well as overseas imports.
How does Oxford Professional Education Group support you in your apprenticeship?
They have always been supportive. The teachers (Katie Jarvis and Jack Hall) were amazing including the director Paul – he was very kind to me and was always on the ball all the time and had the ability to resolve any query for me. OXPEG Faculty were Simply Awesome!
Would you recommend this apprenticeship to others?
Yes, and I am always encouraging my colleagues & peers to do so. It is really worth doing to help enhance practical exposure in Procurement and Supply. I have already provided feedback to my company regarding the excellent support and learning from OXPEG so they are fully aware of my experience.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting an apprenticeship?
It is not easy at all but perseverance and hardwork will always be rewarded in the end. It is truly an excellent path that will help build a better career which will sharpen your behaviour, knowledge, skills and will enhance your learning abilities for a better career.
Oxford Professional Education offer a range of marketing, project management, and procurement apprenticeships. If you are interested in completing an apprenticeship or would like to hire an apprentice for your company, get in touch with our team to find out more.