Nicolas Brooke, Jungheinrich: Aspiring Leader to Senior Specialist

Nicolas (Nick) from Jungheinrich enrolled in a Team Leader Supervisor Programme and, like many learners, faced the challenge of juggling a busy home life, a professional qualification, and a full-time role.

“The biggest challenge I have had to overcome is how to manage my time with the added academic studies and the additional duties following my promotion. However, being on programme when I secured my new role has given me the tools and knowledge to overcome these issues. Models like Eisenhower, time trackers, and SMART objectives have all helped me to stay on schedule and enabled me to complete all of my duties, both ‘on’ and ‘off’ the job, to a high standard.” – Nick Brooke.

Nick’s hard work and natural leadership ability haven’t gone unnoticed at Jungheinrich. While on programme, he has been promoted from aspiring leader to Senior Technical & Training Specialist Team Leader. His manager, Alan Power, has seen the benefits the apprenticeship has brought: “Nick has learnt a lot about himself and various management techniques and practices. In his new role, his monthly learning is being put into practice straight away, allowing new ways of thinking to be brought into how he manages those responsibilities, aligned with the Jungheinrich leadership model. This is having a notable impact on his team and training responsibilities.”

Apprenticeships are all about practical learning, and the Team Leader Supervisor programme provides tools and techniques for first-time managers to develop their careers while championing both professional and personal development. Nick agrees: “I have collected so many skills along my apprenticeship journey, such as project management, management techniques, and enhanced communication skills, along with the ability to chair meetings and have difficult conversations. I have also recognised my strengths, such as being a good active listener and having real attention to detail.”

Upskilling existing staff who understand the culture of the organisation and the way it works to more senior positions provides a welcome route for career development for the individual and enables organisations to get the best out of their people.

Victoria Burston, UK L&D, agrees: “Progressing into a programme of this nature allows for externally benchmarked CMI-accredited level techniques to be injected into our business in real time. Learning and the implementation of that learning is happening simultaneously, aligned to the 70:20:10 principle. This is attractive compared to employing a team leader externally, who may not have had managerial learning courses or programmes for a number of years, and keeps our leadership styles very current.”

Nick’s tutor, Carrie McMaster, has seen Nick go from strength to strength: “Nick has an amazing attitude towards everything he does, and it is clear he has developed through the programme. He really links his learning back to the role, and his diploma work is excellent.” Nick’s attitude towards his learning shines through, Carrie continues: “He has an amazing growth mindset and loves to explore and learn new things or ways. He is not deterred by anything, always giving something a go, and evaluates and reflects on his application of learning to see if that model or method is the right one for him, his team, or the organisation. It has been a privilege to work with Nick and share in his apprenticeship journey.”

We couldn’t agree more. Congratulations, Nick!