Alex Barnes embarked on the Team Leader Level 3 apprenticeship and, 13 months later, achieved a distinction after completing his End Point Assessment (EPA).
After a fantastic result, we asked Alex to share his experience with Instep, and here’s what he had to say.
“I was thrilled to receive a distinction,” Alex shared. “It was a testament to all the hard work and dedication I put into the programme.”
Personal Development
Throughout the apprenticeship, Alex experienced significant personal growth in several areas.
Some of these key areas of development were self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
Alex started a diary to assess emotions and become more self-aware, which helped in recognising the impact of actions in meetings on colleagues.
“Keeping a diary has been a game-changer for me,” Alex noted. “It has made me more conscious of my emotions and how they affect my interactions with others.”
In terms of chairing meetings, Alex improved meeting management by inviting only relevant participants and ensuring everyone is heard.
This was a significant enhancement to the existing practice of listing talking points in meeting invites.
“I learned to make meetings more efficient and inclusive,” Alex said. “It’s about making sure everyone has a voice and the right people are in the room.”
Learning Models
Another area of growth was in giving and receiving feedback.
Alex realised the importance of effective feedback in his role and adopted the SBI (Situation-Behaviour-Impact) model for giving feedback. This approach also involved asking for specific examples when receiving feedback to better understand areas for improvement.
Alex explained: “Feedback is crucial for growth. I’ve learned to give and receive it constructively, which has improved my relationships at work.”
Organisation skills were also honed during the apprenticeship.
Alex utilised the ‘prime time you’ theory to plan the day around peak productivity times and blocked out time in the diary for future tasks.
Implementing a day-to-day to-do list similar to the Eisenhower Matrix helped in better task prioritisation.
“Planning my day around my peak productivity times has made a huge difference,” Alex remarked. “It helps me stay focused and get more done.”
Team Leader Level 3 Experience
Alex found the apprenticeship’s structure and delivery highly effective.
The workshops and tutor meetings conducted via Microsoft Teams allowed for flexibility and accessibility.
The Aptem platform was ‘user-friendly’ and ‘well-organised’, making it easy to track deadlines and required work.
“The online format was incredibly convenient,” Alex said. “I could attend meetings from anywhere, which made balancing work and the apprenticeship much easier.”
The workshops, led by Melanie Johnson, were particularly impactful, as she tailored examples to participants’ job roles and ensured active involvement.
According to Alex, her energy and passion made sessions engaging and enjoyable.
Interaction with participants from diverse industries provided valuable insights, despite the workshops being online rather than in person.
Alex recalled: “Melanie’s workshops were always engaging. Her passion for teaching was evident, and it made learning enjoyable.”
Tutor Support
Alex praised tutor Emma McNichol for her exceptional support throughout the apprenticeship.
Emma’s quick responses to queries and her ability to make each student feel valued were highly appreciated.
Her constructive feedback was clear and actionable, contributing significantly to Alex’s success. Emma’s personal touch and dedication ensured a strong tutor-student relationship.
“Emma was amazing,” Alex stated. “She made me feel like I was her only student and always had my back.”
Want to learn more about the Team Leader Level 3 course? Get in touch today
