Name: Andy M.
Position: HR Manager
Hotel: Portsmouth Marriott Hotel.
At the age of 16, Andy knew the university route wasn’t for him, but he wanted to continue on to college. “I loved football and sports, and I wanted to do something sporty,” says the now HR Manager at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel.
He went on to study sport science then started to investigate opportunities for the next step. His family was supportive about the apprenticeship route, with its mix of theoretical knowledge and practical experience, not to mention the ability to earn throughout.
And. then he found Marriott. Andy and his college tutor spent some time browsing apprenticeships online, where they saw a leisure club role advertised with Marriott. Andy applied, and the process from there was smooth and quick.
The Interview Process
He had an initial interview with the HR Manager and Leisure Club Manager, then a second meeting with the apprenticeship providers to talk about qualifications and experience. A week later, he received an offer.
In 2014, at the age of 18, Andy was welcomed to the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel as an apprentice at the hotel’s leisure club. His first apprenticeship was divided up into work and study over a 40-hour week: 8 hours of study and 32 hours focused on the day-to-day running of the leisure club.
The best part of this time? That not two days were the same. “One day you would be studying anatomy, body types and nutrition, and the next day you could be in the gym shadowing a personal trainer who was putting those topics into practice,” he says.
“Before I looked into it, I’d only ever heard of trade apprenticeships: brick laying, plumbing, etc. – I didn’t know you could do things like accountancy or human resources. There’s an apprenticeship for everyone.”
Andy m.
After completing his 18-month stint, Andy got a full-time job offer with the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel. He worked his way through several promotions, and about six years in, he became manager of the leisure club, a role he held for over three years.
Andy’s Second Apprenticeship and Career Pivot
Alwaysinterested in development, coaching and guiding people, when an HR Officer role opened at Marriott, Andy decided to look into a human resources career. As he didn’t yet have an HR qualification, he enrolled as an HR apprentice to make the transition, allowing him to gain the relevant certification while earning a salary.
After 12 months of online and off-the-job learning, then six months managing a key payroll integration project, he was awarded his Level 5 CIPD in Human Resources Management.
Something unexpected in Andy’s journey is how his background in sports helped him in this career change to HR. “My sports background helps massively, as it’s all about teamwork! You have to be an effective communicator, otherwise teamwork breaks down. Whether you’re 2 nil down in a football match, or managing a packed hotel on a bank holiday weekend, you have to dig deep as a team to get the best outcome.”
And the most interesting area in his current role? “Employment law. It’s so important, and it’s ever changing, so you need to stay up to date and get it right.”
Staying Connected and Helping Others Succeed
Andy is on the UK Provinces Next Gen Marriott Business Council, a group that focuses on engaging the next generation of Marriott associates across the whole of the United Kingdom. As a member of this group, he gets to attend apprenticeship shows around the country and now helps seek out the best new talent.
With his personal experience, he’s a particularly good sounding board for prospective apprentices. “I’ve been through that route, so I can help and advise others on what it’s really like.”
Andy’s Advice for Prospective Apprentices
After his own apprenticeship success story, Andy’s best advice, either for young people who aren’t sure that higher education is the right choice, or for current Marriott associates who are considering upskilling comes down to this:
- “Do your research, so you can understand the pros and cons of university, college or an apprenticeship.”
- “Don’t assume you have to get into debt to get a valid qualification. Apprenticeships can get you nationally recognized qualifications while you earn.”
- “Understand what you’re trying to achieve, but also understand that it might change. (He had sports as his objective, but now he’s an HR Manager!)”
What’s Next for Andy?
Andy has his sights set on a Level 7 apprenticeship in Human Resources and is looking forward to how many doors the world of HR will open for him. There’s so much to explore: learning and development, payroll and employment law, and he has a particular passion for talent acquisition.
