Commercial Manager Review

The placement year was really hard work. It involved putting in a lot of time and effort but it was really rewarding, fast paced and challenging. I was given a lot more responsibility than I ever thought I would be given for a placement year and I was treated as a Manager from day one. I got to experience many different areas of work within Marks and Spencer including the food business and fashions and also completed attatchments in other stores on the Yorkshire Region. There is also many chances to get involved in projects on the region.

There is a massive team ethic within Marks and Spencer, especially in the stores I was placed. I really felt part of the team and was looked to for guidance and feedback. I formed some great relationships with colleagues and I felt really embraced by the team. There was plenty of nights out and activites to get involved with outside of work with my colleagues.

The Marks and Spencer training programme is very structured and there are certain criteria that you need to complete in order to be successful in your training. This allows you to focus what needs to be done and it is easier for things to be achieved. I experienced a very much hands on approach to my learning, and sometimes it was difficult to balance my learning with the demands of store operations. I was assigned a mentor, whom I shadowed and aided me with my learning and also a buddy instore who was a recent graduate. I had regualar reviews with my mentors and weekly meetings with the Store Manager.

Never stopped! The job was extremely fast paced and there was always something to do, be it in store or a project on the region with other graduates and business placement trainees. There was also a large number of out store courses to attend through out the year to increase both technical skills and personal skills such as leadership.

The amount of responsibility that I was given when I sat down and thought about it was immense! From day one you were a Manager of a multi million pound store. On several occassions I was the acting Duty Manager, literally been the person in control of the store on that day.

The skills that I learnt were both technical skills specific to Marks and Spencer and personal development skills such as what kind of leader I am, how I can develop my leadership and management skills which can be applied to any company. It has allowed me to put into practice all the theory that I have learnt at University and put a more practical spin on this knowledge. I have been offered a job with Marks and Spencer when I finish my degree, so everything that I have learnt in the past year will certainly aid me in beyond my studies.

There was a great atmomsphere in the store, some really good people who have become firm friends. There was a great sense of team spirit and achieving things together. Everyone was listened to and there was great communication in the store from Management to store colleagues.

You couldn't ask for a better training scheme. There was a perfect balance of practical learning and courses which helped you understand the fundemental aspects of the job. There is a good structure set up within Marks and Spencer stores (working week framework) which helps you easily get into a routine. There is plenty of support and theres a real sense of freedom to ask any questions that you want to.

Marks and Spencer invested a lot of time and money in my training and development, from courses to attatchments in other stores. I got to work with some really experience Managers who are very highly rated within Marks and Spencer and the responsibility that was placed on my shoulders showed how much they trusted me.

I have been offered a job with Marks and Spencer once I have completed my degree and will return to 3 months of training and then I will be a fully trained Commercial Manager.

There was a great social scene with other placement students and graduate trainees on the region, we met up monthly and I met others from other regions on courses. We were very much encouraged to socialise with them; however with the demands of the job and the distance between us it was sometimes hard to find time. There was plenty of socialising within the store I was placed with colleagues and we went out regularily. It was great fun.

I stayed in the area that I already lived and commuted to Harrogate everyday. This was quite costly and time consuming. There was plenty of accomodation available in Harrogate, however it wasn't cheap and there was no aid given for relocating. The cost of socialising in Harrogate was similar to city centre prices.

There was plenty of bars and restaurants in Harrogate and there is always something going on. However, there is only one decent night club in the town centre.

There were many activites arranged in store for after work such as quizzes and theatre nights out in aid to raise money for nominated charities. There were numerous parties to attend at christmas time.