The Assessor Mag Autumn 2024 Web - Flipbook - Page 25
serious about building a career within
the company. You can increase your
chances for opportunities to progress if
you show willing and have supportive
colleagues who know how hard you
work.
What support was offered to you
in order to help you progress?
I had the support of Mark Neat, who
always knew my background and that
I had 12 years of experience working
in parts, but that I wanted to go even
further with that. He approached me to
recommend the VDA apprenticeship,
and I loved the idea of using my parts
knowledge in a different way to assess
vehicle damage and create estimates,
so I jumped at the chance.
What are all the different roles
you have had in the Group?
I’ve been a CSA, as this is the role
I took on when I started at Activate
Group, then I utilised my previous
industry experience to progress to
become Parts Manager, and for the
last 昀椀ve months I’ve been doing my
apprenticeship to become a quali昀椀ed
VDA.
What advice would you give to
someone who wants to progress
into a different role within
Activate Group?
Go for it! Listen to all the feedback and
advice you can get, whether that be in
your current role or if you take on more
responsibilities and work. If you show
willing, and consistently go the extra
mile, you will be rewarded for it in my
experience.
What is your proudest moment
as part of the business?
I had a substantial role in helping to
develop our bodyshop management
system on the parts side – there
was lots of testing for it happening
in Birmingham and I took on the
responsibility of sharing feedback
and ideas and assisting in its
implementation.
I’m also incredibly proud of the three
years I worked as a Parts Manager,
even though my career is going
in a slightly different direction I’m
de昀椀nitely taking all my experience and
knowledge with me.
What is the greatest challenge
you’ve faced within your journey
so far?
This apprenticeship! There’s lots to
learn and absorb, and I’ve been a
bit out of my comfort zone whilst
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doing it so far. Determining what is to
be replaced or repaired, painted or
blended, involves a lot of knowledge
which I’m constantly having to take in
as much as possible.
I think sometimes I can be a bit hard
on myself – if I don’t understand
something straight away, I get
frustrated and can be self-critical,
but I’m trying to push through it and
remember that this apprenticeship is
all about learning, and with time I’ll get
there.
What do you see for your future
at Activate Group?
I would love to go on to become a
desktop engineer; it’s something I’m
really interested in pursuing! I also have
always wanted to work remotely as it
would suit the lifestyle I would like – I
want to move abroad eventually, so
here’s hoping I can stay with Activate
Group as I love working here!
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