GRADUATE MANAGEMENT TRAINEE BLOG BY NATHAN MCGUINNESS (PART 1 OF 2)

I’m Nathan McGuinness, a Graduate Management Trainee with Wernick Hire. I wanted to talk about my journey as a trainee so far and then go through a large project from start to finish, documenting not just the finished product but the whole process, including any difficulties or challenges. This case study has been split into two parts, so please keep an eye out for part 2 on the website in the next couple of weeks where I will discuss the project itself. MY BACKGROUND Having spent three years with one of our competitors as a Hire Controller, I was eager to start climbing the career ladder, getting the chance to test myself with new duties and responsibilities. Unfortunately not every company in the Hire industry provides the same opportunities for progression that Wernick do, and so I found myself frustrated in that role. My head was turned when hearing about our graduate management scheme and after a successful interview I never looked back. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS I started with Wernick Hire back in March 2018, based at the Eggborough depot for an initial three months to learn the ropes. With no prior welfare or accommodation experience it’s a slightly daunting industry to come into. I think I expected that we would supply standard steel boxes of various lengths with different furniture, but quickly realised it’s not quite as simple as that! The staff at Eggborough were extremely patient in hindsight, and were always on hand to help when I found something difficult. It’s been a common theme throughout my time here so far actually – every person I’ve met has been genuinely friendly and welcoming, which has made my transition into a new company so easy. WORKING WITH OTHER DEPOTS My time at Eggborough came to a close the weekend of the Wernick Hire Seminar, which I was also really impressed with. I think you’d struggle to find another company in this industry where practically the entire spectrum of staff is represented at this kind of event; seeing Hire Controllers team building with Directors and everyone in between. It creates a feeling of inclusivity while fostering good inter-depot relationships. LEARNING FROM THE BEST Having been told that Aldridge depot was a much bigger operation than I was used to, I was looking forward to getting started. Again, the staff there were very welcoming and made me feel at home immediately. Being able to work with the staff at Aldridge has been really valuable for my development. It’s been great to learn from their attention to detail and organisational skills and it will definitely serve me well in the future. NEW CHALLENGES People assume that the hours and hours of driving or the being away from home is the worst part of this programme, but that’s not been an issue for me personally. I think it’s testament to how great Wernick staff are, that one of the most disappointing experiences of my time so far has been leaving the guys at Eggborough and Aldridge. And now I’ve said something nice about them, they can’t turn me down when I ask for a favour! It was during my time at Aldridge that Wernick entered into the agreement with Interserve, and shortly after an enquiry landed on my desk. As one of our first sizeable jobs for this customer, we thought it would be a good idea to document it from start to finish in the case study that follows. Read part two of my case study now by clicking here. If you would like to read more about becoming a Graduate Management Trainee with the Wernick Group, click here.

For more information on GRADUATE MANAGEMENT TRAINEE BLOG BY NATHAN MCGUINNESS (PART 1 OF 2) talk to Wernick Buildings Ltd