Mustafa Rahman, now a Business Development Executive in the Trade Team, was one of the first people to take part in the company’s graduate scheme. Having graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a BA (Hons) Marketing and Advertising Management, he first joined Ideal Standard in the Supply Chain Team. Here, he tells us about his experience of the programme and how he has benefitted from it.
What did you do when you finished university?
As soon as I finished university, I started applying for roles within the area. As soon as Ideal Standard came up, it was one of those companies you’re aware of because you’ve heard of the brand. I used to play football across the road to Ideal Standard and always used to go past. I applied for the Supply Chain Graduate scheme and was called to come for an assessment day and various meetings. Once I received my offer I was over the moon to work for such a large organisation and be offered a graduate role within my home town.
What did you do in that role?
With the Supply Chain graduate role, I worked in different areas within the company and spent time between Armitage and Hull. Primarily within the DIY channel and Trade Channels alongside that I was involved in some projects such as the spares project, a brief spell with the Sottini project and finally the modular housing project.
What’s the benefit of the scheme?
It’s an opportunity to gain more exposure across the business and helped me decide which direction I wanted to take my career within Ideal Standard. I was also offered some additional qualifications to help my career progression and have completed a management and leadership course alongside my role. With the times I spent within the different areas I was building a clearer understanding on which direction I wanted to take my career and it was clear I wanted to move into the sales channel.
I believe working for a company like Ideal Standard is always positive, there’s a vast number of opportunities that come along but you have to be patient. With the help of the graduate scheme I had great support and exposure across the company which helped me grow as a person and enabled me to add value to the organisation.
On completion of the graduate scheme, you secured a role in the field sales team. How’s that going?
It has been a strange year with Covid-19 as I was offered the role before lockdown and didn’t start the role officially until August. We have a really good energetic team that helped me settle in straight away and allowed me to contribute towards our team’s objectives. We all had to adapt to new ways of working as we are more external and customer facing, with the restriction we have spent a lot more time working from home and it’s been a different challenge for myself to introduce myself to my customers over the phone who I have never met before.
I look after the Yorkshire area as a business development executive. I feel like I’ve settled in really well and it’s great to have ownership of the customers within my area. The customer relationship building and assisting their business needs is something I really enjoy as I can make a difference for their business.
Every day is a different day, there’s a good focus in the team and for next year we have a lot to look forward to push even more!