Student Case Study: Adam Bestwick – Millets (JD Group)
Ahead of National Dyslexia Awareness Week we caught up with ‘Team Leader Supervisor’ Apprentice, Adam Bestwick from the Millets Store in Birkenhead to gather his feedback on how he got to where he is in his career and his discovery of the Apprenticeship programme he’s currently fulfilling.
Adam told Qube “Throughout my years of education I struggled with what seemed like basic academic tasks for many. It wasn’t until my higher education years that I received a full diagnosis of my dyslexia and my visual impairment. After being registered as ‘partially sighted’ I was fortunate enough to attend the ‘’The Royal National College for the Blind’ in Hereford where I studied a range of courses, all of which supported my self-confidence, including performing arts, behavioural studies and maths. During my time at the College my visual impairment was reassessed, and I was officially registered as blind at the age of 18.
With my newfound confidence, I went to university to study to become a Youth Worker Following the successful completion of my degree I graduated from University at a ‘bad time’, there were numerous cuts to funding for youth work and job opportunities were very limited, with many requiring the applicant to drive; Something I’m unable to do. I however didn’t let this stop me, following a period of unemployment I began job hunting and came across my current position at the ‘Millets’ store near my hometown of Birkenhead.
After handing my CV over the counter, the management team were soon in touch and offered me the opportunity to join their workforce. Now in my 7th year with Millets, I have worked my way up from a ‘Sales Assistant’ role to my current position as ‘Supervisor’. Although I have learned numerous skills over my educational and working years, I felt I lacked any specific team leading or management specific skills, that’s when JD Group got in touch, highlighting their new Apprenticeship offering, something I snapped up in an instant.
Following the enrolment on to my ‘Team Leader Supervisor’ Apprenticeship I was aiming to utilise my local library’s computer facility to enhance my studies as I don’t have a laptop or computer at home. This plan was soon flipped on its head with the digital resources being removed, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving me to study on my work computer when possible and just my smart phone at home, something that is particularly difficult being registered blind. Following discussions with Qube about my situation, I was delighted to receive a laptop from Qube Learning and Retail Trust, as part of their plans to combat digital poverty, something that already has and will continue to support me with my Apprenticeship and career moving forwards.
The confidence boost I have already received from enrolling on to this Apprenticeship is amazing; I’m doing tasks that previously I wouldn’t have dreamt were possible. I am thoroughly grateful for all the support I have received to date and cannot wait to see what the future holds with the completion of my Apprenticeship. Thank you to JD Group and Qube for giving me this opportunity and to my Manager ‘Mimi’, Retail Trust and my family for the support they continue to provide me.
For more information on current Apprenticeship opportunities available at JD Group, including their ‘Millets’ stores, please visit: https://jdfashionplc.team.careers/search
