Apprenticeship Case Study - Sandra Azevedo
Meet Sandra
I am a Reception Supervisor at the Fish Hotel on the Farncombe Estate in Broadway.
I have been working for this wonderful company for six years. I started as a receptionist at the Dormy House Hotel and 18 months later I transferred across to our sister Hotel, The Fish.
During my time there I was mentored and encouraged to develop my skills and within a year I was promoted to Reception Supervisor.
How was it when you first started on an apprenticeship?
I was offered the opportunity to do the Hospitality Supervisor Level 3 by the HR team in 2020.
I accepted the challenge and started the journey to further my education and work opportunities. It was a difficult adjustment. I was out of my comfort zone and writing exams for English and Maths was difficult.
As exciting as it was to start something new, I was feeling a little out of my depth.
What was the biggest struggle?
Initially, I was informed that I would need to complete a Maths and English functional skills test to qualify. Maths has always been my Achilles heel.
I was educated in a foreign country and I don’t care to remember what year I completed my schooling. Becoming a student again has had its challenges as well as balancing work schedules with a happy home life.
COVID-19 came along, and I had to adapt to new technologies and a different way of attending a class. The support though has been phenomenal and the technology in itself a new learning curve.
How did you overcome the learning barriers?
Overcoming personal barriers has been through sheer determination and support from Umbrella Training and my Coach.
I have had to work harder, apply what I have learnt to my work duties as well as in my role as Reception Supervisor.
I adapted to the changes I have had to make to succeed. This has had great benefits for my team members as well as myself.
What difference did your coach make in understanding how to learn?
My coach had been incredibly supportive, dedicated and patient.
He has gone above and beyond. He takes the time to tutor me in a way I can understand the content and I have never felt judged. He has adapted to my way of learning to bring out the best in myself.
I would recommend any of my colleagues to enrol and take on the challenge to learn and further their career.
