I loved English at school and always thought I wanted to get a degree in this field but I didn’t know if university was the right approach for me. Instead, I embarked on a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship at DHL.
How my journey started
While I was at school the opportunity arose for me to take part in a programme with The Outward Bound Trust, this was being funded by the DHL UK Foundation with support from colleagues in the DHL business.
The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity that inspires young people to fulfil their potential through taking part in challenging outdoor experiences. They attend a residential where they build resilience, confidence and raise their aspirations whilst learning to work in team and meet lots of new people. They also receivewrap around sessions in school to gain an insight into the world of work, learni about the range of career opportunities available in the logistics industry and develop vital employability skills.
The school I attended is in an area of high disadvantage. I think the residential trip at the Outward Bound centre was a real turning point for me but I didn’t realise it at the time. I developed skills which I use in my job role today such as confidence, leadership and teamwork.
I really believe things happen for a reason; when I first applied for a place on the programme I was a reserve, if another student hadn’t dropped out, I wouldn’t have known about DHL and likely wouldn’t have applied for the apprenticeship programme.
Landing my Degree Apprenticeship at DHL
I submitted an online application for a Degree Apprenticeship with DHL even though I wasn’t sure it was the right option for me. However, I was successful and progressed to the interview stage and then got the job!
I started as a Business Intelligence Manager doing desktop research whilst starting my degree; fast forward four years and I now have a First-Class Business Degree and manage a team of 5 people, looking after operationally led renewals for the UK and Ireland.
Thinking back
If I had not taken part in the Outward Bound programme and learnt about logistics, my perception of the industry would have been really different. I would have had no idea of the wide range of job opportunities in the company.
To find out more about GoTeach with The Outward Bound Trust programme and how you can get involved supporting a young person like Megan, please contact the DHL UK Foundation on goteachuk@dhl.com.