Meet Cimmie - one of our painting and decorating apprentices at #TeamMagna who is currently preparing for her end point assessment in March.
Cimmie has been doing her apprenticeship for a few years at Magna now and has gained a wide variety of experience, supporting our teams with redecorating homes, carrying out kitchen and bathroom refurbishments, and even some home repairs.
She said:
“I’ve gained most of my practical skills working alongside the team. I’m not afraid to ask questions of more experienced colleagues and I’ll often go home and check stuff in a book or online.”
When Cimmie first got the call offering her the apprenticeship position, she was decorating her own bedroom at the time! She attends Bridgwater and Taunton College once a week and is currently preparing for the final three-day practical assessment to receive her qualifications in March.
She continued:
“College has been good because that’s where I’ve learned about the causes of problems, so things like damp and mould.
“We need to understand what’s caused the issue so we can do a fix that will last. Otherwise, we’ll just be going back again – it’s better to take a bit longer and get it right.
“I like doing things properly and I’m not someone that cuts corners. I problem solve so I can get the best finish. It’s not just about painting walls!
“Sometimes what I do brings customers a lot of happiness, and I love it when I get a chance to be a bit creative. One time I painted a customer’s bathroom a pale colour – the customer had been struggling with cancer and the paint didn’t cost any more. It really cheered them up, so it seemed like the right thing to do.
“I want to fix everything for people – especially older people. I cared for my Nan and Grandad, so I know a bit about the struggles.”
Cimmie has been fantastic at building great relationships with our customers and her colleagues. She’s one of many people doing apprenticeships across the organisation and delivering great work while learning valuable skills that will help them in their careers.
Cimmie finished by saying:
“If I could pass on any advice to someone starting an apprenticeship, I’d say learn more – always learn more! You’ve got to listen, look on the internet, and you’ve got to keep learning.
“Also, don’t underestimate what you can do. I’m only 23 and sometimes people think that’s a limitation but it’s not. The Magna team are lovely as anything – we’re a family in the team.
“I’ve got a work experience student with me in July and I’m really looking forward to that. It’ll be great to help someone else understand what the job’s about. I want to get more qualifications and upskill. I will do everything and anything I can!”
We’re proud to have passionate and driven apprentices like Cimmie at Magna who work hard to learn new skills and challenge themselves to be the best that they can be.
