Lucy Shepherd is a Branch Sales Coordinator for CCF, part of Travis Perkins. Despite missing her GCSE exams due to the pandemic, Lucy joined CCF as a sales coordinator apprentice and is currently working on a Level 2 Trade Supplier programme.
Lucy Shepherd was one of the thousands of 16-year-olds whose GCSE exams were cancelled due to covid. Despite her best efforts, the pandemic left her with no formal qualifications and little confidence for life after school.
Despite this, Lucy was keen to start her career journey and applied for a job with CCF, part of Travis Perkins plc and a leading distributor of insulation, drywall, and ceiling products to construction customers.
CCF interviewed Lucy and offered her the job due to her drive and ambition, so she started the apprenticeship that followed and is now well into her Level 2 Trade Supplier programme and loving it. Lucy explains: “Despite my setbacks, my Branch Manager, Andy Warden, gave me a second chance to pursue a career by offering me a position as a sales coordinator apprentice”.
Through her apprenticeship, Lucy has gained new skills and hands-on experience and is also pursuing her functional skills (maths and English) qualifications. This experience has not only enhanced her career prospects but also bolstered her self-confidence and determination to succeed.
Looking ahead, Lucy is poised to complete her Level 2 Trade Supplier apprenticeship and is already considering what qualification she will go on to do next.
“Lucy is a great example of how transformative apprenticeships can be. They can also help us improve the gender balance in an industry where women continue to be underrepresented. In our own business, 25% of our workforce are women, but that rises to 40% for those who undertake apprenticeships. This goes to show how skills have the power to create meaningful change and help us build a more diverse and skilled workforce,” said Andy Rayner, Director of LEAP Apprenticeships and Early Careers at Travis Perkins plc.
