“Throw yourself in at the deep end – it’s how you’re going to learn”

Entering a management role at the age of 18 was “a baptism of fire”, says Olivia Hepplewhite CMgr MCMI – but it was also an experience she relished. 

“I loved being able to tackle those everyday challenges. Management always keeps you on your toes, and I just thrive in that fast-paced environment.”

After leaving school, Olivia took the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship route, studying for a business management degree at the University of Bradford. She gained her CMI accreditation while undertaking management placements with a supermarket retailer.

“I would 100% recommend it,” she says of the degree apprenticeship. “Don’t get me wrong; it’s very challenging when you’re working full time alongside your degree studies, as well as building evidence for your Chartered Manager accreditation. You just need to be organised and understand that, no matter how hard it gets, the outcome is absolutely worth it.”

“You need to be bold”

Going to work in a very male environment at a young age was hard too, she recalls: it was often other managers, rather than team members, who questioned her abilities. 

“That kind of thing is a big challenge for young managers and you’ve got to have that strength about you to be able to get through it. But, towards the end of the apprenticeship, I actually had some managers come up to me and say, ‘You know what, Olivia? We probably should have listened to you a little bit more.’ That was really nice to hear.”