Winner - Jemma Swinscoe, Specsavers
The Rising Star Award is
presented to apprentices who have shown exceptional growth while on programme
and Jemma Swinscoe from Specsavers is a deserved winner for 2022.
Jemma undertook the Team Leader/Supervisor programme as part
of Specsavers employee development plan for future leaders.
‘I’d
been working in my current role as a Financial Analyst for a number of years
and although I was working hard and was a good employee, I was complacent. The
apprenticeship has helped me come out of my shell and encouraged me to want to
progress to a management/leadership role.’
Jemma
struggles with Dyslexia and a lack of understanding of this in previous
education settings, led to her wrongly being labelled as a slow student. ‘The apprenticeship
has benefitted me over college/ going back to university as it has taken into
consideration my learning disability. It makes me feel more like a person than
a number.’
‘Emma,
my tutor, has been amazing throughout. She has adapted the way she teaches to
help me understand what is required and varies her teaching style to make the
knowledge aspect of the programme easier and more enjoyable. Emma has always
been there for me when I have additional question or require guidance or
support - she’s really helped me push myself to be a better person.’
Jemma’s
Tutor, Emma Jones, has witnessed first-hand the hard work Jemma puts in: ‘Jemma
doesn’t let her dyslexia hold her back. The quality of her work is excellent
and she’s constantly looking for opportunities to better herself. She
implements what she’s learnt on programme, actively seeking out opportunities
to gain experience of all aspects of the role she is aiming for.’
Her
Manager, Hayley, agrees: 'Jemma has taken on additional responsibilities to help
build her confidence and understanding of a team leader role by sitting in on
interviews as a note taker and being involved in the conversations around the
process. Her knowledge and understanding of her role are excellent and this
shows within our team. Other members of staff go to her for support, which she
is always happy to provide. The more Jemma continues to push herself, the more
confident I see her become.’
‘I
feel that the theories and what I’ve learned has really helped me become more
confident in my own abilities.’
Jemma
is now being presented with opportunities she did not have before she started
on this qualification. Congratulation Jemma!
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