CHARLOTTE Ginger is one of four ABC Leisure Group employees enrolled in a new apprenticeship scheme, and she is already reaping the rewards.
The group, which owns and operates 18 inland waterway marinas, has partnered with leading training provider Paragon Skills to launch the scheme, supported by the National Apprenticeship Service.
Charlotte is the office manager in the booking office which sits above picturesque Worcester Marina and has embarked on a Level 5 Operational Management apprenticeship. She said: “I have always enjoyed being by, in or on the water, so when the job came up at ABC, I was excited for the opportunity. I have worked for the company for about three and a half years now.
“My role involves a variety of different aspects of the business. I manage the booking office team on a daily basis; we process all the bookings for the company’s hire fleet (holiday and day hire) and property bookings, and we administer all of the brokerage sales at our marinas and assist the marinas in any way we can. I also support our directors with any additional tasks required.
“I have done other training in this role and past roles, but nothing to this level of accreditation. When an apprenticeship was first mentioned, I knew I would like to be involved as it seemed to be a great programme to expand my knowledge and learn new skills, and I also thought it would help me in my current or any future roles with ABC.”
The 33-year-old, who lives in a small village on the outskirts of Worcester with her partner and two dogs, said walking and travelling – including on the waterways – is a big part of her life. A keen baker, she creates wedding and birthday cakes for her own small business.
Charlotte is being joined on the apprenticeship programme by her colleagues, customer service co-ordinator Jade Mckillup, Gayton Marina’s John Sadler and Keeley Skov, of Kings Orchard Marina, who will each study a Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor apprenticeship. All four have enrolled for two years.
“We have all started our apprenticeships already, and the first of our workshops are starting within the next couple of weeks, and so far, it is going well,” Charlotte added. “ABC has provided us all with a great opportunity to develop ourselves and is supporting us through the courses. The four of us are also supporting each other where possible.
“I’m looking forward to all parts of the course, especially the operational side as this is what attracted me in the first instance. I think I’ll gain a new perspective on different styles of running a team and it will also enhance my existing processes and my management style, aiding me to run and support my team in a more efficient way.”
Managing director Carl Onens said: “We are delighted to support these team members in their development and knowledge expansion.”
ABC Leisure Group’s marinas are located all around the UK, from Worcestershire and Cheshire to Wales and Derbyshire. Its work includes responsibility for about 1000 mooring berths, a fleet of about 300 narrowboats devoted to self-drive self-catering holidays, a boat-building operation, a boat brokerage service and a rapidly expanding chandlery operation that includes onboard energy.
Find more about job opportunities with the group at www.abclg.com
