Jie Johnstone is the Kitchen Manager at Rheged, part of the Westmorland family. Rheged is a gallery, café, cinema, shopping venue, workplace, and creative space on the edge of the northern Lakes. We recently spoke to Jie about what the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) course has meant to him and how he feels it has benefited his employer.
Can you tell us a little about your background, and how you came to be studying on the CMDA?
During the Covid pandemic, I was furloughed from my job working front of house in catering at Centre Parcs. This gave me time to reflect, and I realised that I wanted to move away from late nights and split shifts. I joined Westmorland as a production chef, which suited me well; the hours were good and I could spend more time at home with my family. I was a few months into this role when, due to a restructure, the role of kitchen manager came up, and I was offered the opportunity.
This was my first experience of management, and I didn’t have any management training or formal qualifications because I had left school at 16. I always felt like I could have done more, achieved more, and when the CMDA was advertised, I was keen and thought that this was the opportunity I needed.
At 40 years old, I felt that this was my chance to go back to do the learning I had missed earlier in life. I’m super proud of myself for doing it. My spare time until then was spent learning the guitar, learning the piano, and doing Duolingo courses with my daughter, which proved to be a good foundation for learning on the course.
Before starting the degree apprenticeship, I went on a taster day, and I’d recommend it. The day included guest speakers, example lectures and workshops, and it was really helpful to see where I would be studying on the campus at Ambleside.
What’s the learning experience been like and what benefits has this given you?
The first year was eye-opening. It was really interesting to see the different teaching styles, as it’s all very different from when I left school. The learning is dynamic, and the tutors facilitate discussion. Different points of view are encouraged, so there’s no fear of saying the wrong thing.
The classroom time can be used to bounce ideas off others – it’s fantastic. The teaching staff are tremendous, Nikki and Angie do everything they can to help and support us. There is also great support from the library team, and the Virtual Learning Resources are good.
All the presentations we have done have given me confidence to speak in public. Recently, I gave a presentation to young learners at Kendal College, and I have worked with Queen Elizabeth Grammar School to advise 15-16-year-olds on developing their CVs. I would never have had the confidence to do that without the course.
The course has had a profound effect on my entire outlook and every aspect of my life. I read far more widely now than I would have done; I have a wider scope of learning in my personal life. It’s opened up a new world, and I take advantage of all the learning experiences available. I cannot speak highly enough of this course and what it has offered me.
How are you putting the skills you’ve learned on the course into practice?
I’ve been able to apply every single module very quickly, and I have the opportunity to put what I have learned into practice straight away. I always find that I can apply the learning to the practice in my job.
What are the benefits to your employer?
By applying the tools we have been taught, I have been able to be more productive. For example, the LION framework [Last Week, Issues, Opportunities, and Next Week] has been a really helpful way of structuring meetings. Before going on the course, I might have been a bit scattergun and not organised my meetings so well, but using this tool helps me to focus, get more out of meetings, and be more productive.
Another area where I have changed is that previously, I would lead from the front and perhaps get too involved and hands-on. The course has taught me to take a step back and to be more strategic. Previously, I would have focused on just my area of work, but now I can see how what we do in my department fits with other areas of the organisation, and how we can collaborate to be more effective as a whole.
Because the tutors on the course accommodate different learning styles, it has helped me to understand that the members of my team all have different learning styles, too. Before the course, I would only really see things from my point of view, or do things in a way which suited me, but now I realise that what works for me might not work for others, and I’m more considerate of that now.
I’ve really been able to improve my approach to team management and workplace relationships based on what I have learned about communication and transactional analysis.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about an apprenticeship?
I didn’t know what to expect in the classroom, but I found a real mix of people ranging in age from 19 to 50. It was comforting to see such a mix of people.
There’s never a perfect time to study. I’ve got a job, two kids under nine, and a dog. Even if life is busy, but don’t be afraid to do it. You’re more likely to regret not doing it.