Hi again, my name’s Ashley, you may remember my initial blog post covering how I found the Kickstart scheme and what I was learning from it. After another three very quick months, my kickstart term at 2buy2 is coming to a close. Fortunately, this is less of an ending and more of an exciting next step, let me tell you why.

2buy2; across the entire six-month stint has been nothing but inviting and open to new ideas. I have learned a massive amount on marketing tools, tips, and strategies. Something you can only get through first-hand industry experience. One of the most important elements, however, is trust.

Kickstart first trusted me by taking me into their scheme, then 2buy2 trusted me and took a chance based on my abilities and drive to learn. Because of this trust I felt comfortable pitching ideas and actively taking part in the marketing strategy for 2buy2, not just feeling like an onlooker or outsider. I was and still am valued by my co-workers.

From this trust, my confidence in myself and my working ability has continued to rise throughout my time on the course. Another way my confidence rose was through the Kickstart courses offered by my work coach, they had a wide variety available, from photoshop classes through to how to effectively update your CV and interview skills post-kickstart scheme. I had fortnightly meetings with my work coach, in which we would go through the previous weeks and pick out any areas I felt I wanted to improve on or highlight personally successful workdays.

One of the biggest developments from these past 3 months has been the responsibility of tasks being trusted to me, I have been integral in marketing campaigns and launching 2buy2’s new podcast – Fun with Procurement! Getting my ideas listened to and implemented in new marketing campaigns has been incredibly rewarding, planning social media posts and blogs as well as helping out with webinar and conferences meant I was learning something new every day.

I have been able to take my gratitude for 2buy2 and turn that into celebrating everyone else’s achievements through the Kudos of the Month posts. There’s a strong sense of togetherness in 2buy2 and being able to highlight that is something I am very proud of.

My time with the kickstart scheme will be over soon, having my final meeting with my work coach was bittersweet, our fortnightly run through of events helped put my time into perspective. We went through a 6 monthly review – a self-assessment that gets compared to one I filled in at the start of the scheme. The results were very fulfilling, I realised I’d improved in every aspect of my working career, one that my work coach backed up.

I am excited to take my next steps with 2buy2 and I hope that the Kickstart Scheme stays around to help others that were in my position get the help they need to find their dream role.