Bagnalls’ Management Trainee Programme: Frequently Asked Questions How long does the programme last? The target time for completion is 3 years. Some people, particularly those who have previous qualifications or experience in the industry will complete the programme more quickly; others will take up to 4 years. We recognise that different people develop at different rates and will support all our Trainees to complete the scheme in an appropriate timescale for them. What is covered in the programme? All Trainees will cover modules in Company History and Group Structure, Measuring and Estimating, Office Administration, Contracts Management and Technical Painting and Decorating. Trainees may also take branch specific modules depending on the work carried out by their local branch, for example Painting in the Rail Industry. How will I learn? Most of what you will learn will be through on the job training. You will have plenty of opportunity, from an early stage, to gain practical experience of what it is like to run contracts. You will also spend a lot of time shadowing more experienced members of staff. In addition, we will carry out more specific training in measurement and estimating and technical aspects of painting and decorating at our Painting Academy in Doncaster. We also hold a Management Trainee Conference every year where all Trainees from across the group get together for 3 days at Bagnalls’ head office. Topics for the conference include People Management, Marketing, Finance and Health and Safety. What will I be doing as a Trainee? We will be training you to manage all aspects of painting and decorating contracts. This includes customer liaison, surveying, estimating, cost control and managing projects from initial enquiry through to completion and final account agreement. As you will be working in a small office you will be expected to undertake a number of support roles for other people in the office. These tasks are important for your development because they help you to understand how the business as a whole operates. We also expect you to be flexible in terms of the hours you work as contracts are often carried out at some distance from the local branch. Frequently we will also carry out contracts at weekends and overnight to meet customers’ needs so you will sometimes need to work outside of office hours to keep up to date on how a contract is progressing.

What sort of customers will I be working for? Bagnalls manage painting contracts for a huge variety of organisations. We work for schools, hospitals, prisons, universities and housing associations in the public sector. We also carry out a lot of work in the private sector in offices, hotels, factories and banks, amongst other places. Some of our branches carry out highly specialist work on the railways, in heavy industry and in building restoration and concrete repair. This means that there is a huge variety to the role of a Management Trainee at Bagnalls. Take a look at some of the case studies of our customers here. How will I be assessed? Assessments take place every 6 months. They test a mixture of knowledge and skills to help to make sure all Trainees are on track and know where they are doing well and where they need to develop. We will also assess more general behaviours on the job to make sure that all of our Trainees uphold our company values. What qualifications do I need to join the scheme? We ask that all our trainees have at least 5 GCSEs graded A*-C including English and Maths. Good numerical skills are particularly important because our Trainees will deal with figures every day. We are keen to receive applications from people with higher qualifications, including A-Levels and degrees too. Our Trainees come from a variety of backgrounds, some straight from school, some from university and others with practical experience in a construction trade. More important than your previous qualifications is a commitment to learn and to succeed in the industry. Take a look at the profiles of some of our current Trainees below to see their backgrounds. As we carry out contracts all over the UK you will need to be able to drive in order to reach them. Most of the contracts you would be responsible for managing would be based within your region, but you may occasionally need to work away from home too. If you don’t currently have a driving licence this is ok, as long as you commit to obtaining a full driving licence within a year of joining Bagnalls. What are my prospects after the scheme ends? The prospects are very good. On successfully finishing the scheme you will become a Contracts Manager with Bagnalls at the branch where you trained. As we try to recruit from within wherever possible there are good prospects for being promoted to more senior roles too. Many of our Branch Managers are former Management Trainees. 4 out of our 7 Directors also started as Trainees. As Bagnalls is a national organisation there is also scope for moving to another branch within the group. What is the recruitment process? Opportunities are advertised on the Current Vacancies section of our website. You will be asked to submit an up to date CV and covering letter demonstrating how you meet the person specification. We also welcome speculative CVs sent to [email protected]. If you are shortlisted you will be invited to a telephone interview. This will be followed by a face to face interview. The recruitment process offers you a chance to ask any further questions you have as well as giving us the opportunity to assess your suitability to join the scheme.

Trainee Profiles Name: Charlotte Role: Management Trainee (Restoration and Concrete Repair) Qualification: BA (Hons) Architectural Design Joined Bagnalls: July 2014 “After completing my degree I was looking for a role in the industry where I could continue building on the knowledge I already had to progress into a management position. I was attracted to the Management Trainee programme because of the variety offered in the role, from pricing works to overseeing contracts and managing accounts. I also liked the fact that Bagnalls offered the opportunity to progress once the programme has been completed. “My degree helped me to understand the concepts of tendering, specifications and measuring as well as the importance of health and safety. Since I joined Bagnalls I have learned much more about the importance of organisation and planning to make sure jobs run successfully. There is a lot to take on board, but it does become easier once you start to pick things up. “I like the fact that every day at Bagnalls is different. I have had the opportunity to visit lots of interesting places that I wouldn’t otherwise have seen, for example the jockeys’ changing rooms at Sandown Park Racecourse and the Port of Dover. I also particularly enjoyed project managing the redecoration of a National Trust property on the White Cliffs of Dover, a historic building that used to be an old Victorian prison. “I would encourage others to join the scheme because of the support offered by other members of staff within a branch as well as at head office. Bagnalls also provide opportunities for further education, for example through the Chartered Institute of Building. It is also really good to meet the other Trainees at Bagnalls at the annual Management Trainee Conference.” Name: Russell Role: Management Trainee Qualifications: NVQ 2 and 3 in Painting and Decorating Joined Bagnalls: January 2007 “I joined Bagnalls as an apprentice painter and decorator. I was looking for a change of career as I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing at the time. I joined the Management Trainee Programme in 2014. The main thing that interested me in the programme was the opportunity it gives to improve and progress and to add skills that I didn’t previously have. “Being a qualified decorator helped me as I had knowledge of painting and paint products to begin with. This made it easier for me to put timescales to certain jobs and also helped me to talk to the painters about the methods I was asking them to use.

“I like the fact that Bagnalls gives people opportunities. You don’t need formal, academic qualifications in order to progress. I have learned a lot since joining the Management Trainee scheme. I have learned about the amount of work that goes into both winning work and making sure they run smoothly. I’ve had to get used to the day to day duties of being a Management Trainee, rather than being a painter. I’ve also had to form different types of relationships with people I worked alongside as a painter for a long time. “The most interesting project I have worked on so far was for Rugby Borough Council. There were many painters all working on the same job at one time and there was a lot of organising to be done to make sure the job ran as smoothly as possible. The job also involved liaising with tenants to make sure they were happy.” Name: Tom Role: Management Trainee (National Projects) Qualifications: A-Levels in Economics, Business and Sports Science

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Joined Bagnalls: November 2012 “After completing my A levels at 6th form, I decided I wanted to go into some form of management Role. I saw the job advertisement to train as a Project Manager and thought that the job would be very interesting and challenging. The Management Trainee programme offered me a chance to develop a wide range of skills such as building customer relations, working within a team, quantity surveying and estimating, and general management skills. “I believe my A-Levels in Business and Economics help me to understand how the business works as a whole with regards to profit margins, overheads etc. This benefits me when pricing work and gives me a wider perspective on budgets, targets and how the business is looking to grow. I also had previous work experience before joining Bagnalls as I had worked part-time as a team coach in a clothing shop. “I particularly enjoy the diverse range of customers we work with, building relationships with many different colleagues throughout the branch network, and travelling around the UK to see the work we undertake. I also enjoy the feeling of satisfaction from a successful project I have run. The most interesting project I work on is our ongoing contract with BOC Gases, this is a very complex national painting contract, which requires a great deal of planning and coordination. “I have learned a lot since joining the Management Trainee programme. I have gained a wide range of management and communication skills. I have also become more aware about how crucial time management is when looking after contracts. The six-monthly assessments can be challenging, especially when juggling them with your workload; however they do help you to learn how to manage your time, and do teach you a lot. “I would encourage others to join the scheme because you are given support but you are also given a lot of personal responsibility. The scheme teaches you a very wide set of skills and knowledge, and is beneficial to anyone who wishes to progress in a management role.”

Name: Tom Role: Contracts Manager Qualification: BA (Hons) Accounting and Financial Management Joined Bagnalls: July 2012 “I joined Bagnalls after university and after a year as an asbestos removal operative. I chose Bagnalls because of their investment in people and the opportunities to progress. My degree helped me to understand the monthly profit and loss account, debtors, creditors and the financial numbers involved with running my own contracts. My experience working within asbestos removal helped me to understand health and safety regulations and to look out for asbestos when surveying jobs. “I like the people I work with at Bagnalls. The working atmosphere feels very dynamic as every day is different. I like the Management Trainee scheme because I have got to understand different areas of the business, not just contracts management. I’ve had to learn a lot because of having no knowledge of painting and decorating before joining Bagnalls. However, the Management Trainee conferences I have attended as well as site visits to paint manufacturers’ factories and speaking to painters on site have helped to improve my understanding vastly. “The Management Trainee role is challenging because of needing to be organised at all times. There are so many variables in running contracts that can change the planned structure of your day in an instant. However, the Management Trainee scheme helps you to get ready to progress to become a Contracts Manager, particularly learning about the importance of customer relationships. “The most interesting projects I have worked in are social housing contracts. These contracts are all about organisation and keeping tenants informed, for example when circumstances change due to weather. I also have to make sure I visit sites regularly to make sure that there is consistent quality and that our customers are happy.”