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Find out about carers at CADSThe apprenticeship experience at CADS
In January 2024, Callum started his apprenticeship experience at CADS as a retail planner. His journey has involved growth, training, skill development, and hands-on practise with major retail clients. Here's Callum's account of his apprenticeship journey so far!
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The apprenticeship experience At CADS
The role and work
As of September 2024, I have been an apprentice at CADS for nine months, working within the retail planning team at the company’s Great Yarmouth office.
The past nine months have been an enjoyable, interesting and challenging experience. I have undertaken several stages and types of training and practice (which continues, even now!), eventually progressing into live work for some of the company’s largest retail clients, such at Primark.
The first steps – training & learning
The beginning months of my apprenticeship experience were heavily focused on training and skill development in several sectors. Office skills and awareness, such as health and safety, privacy and mental health awareness were tackled first.
This progressed into the introduction and familiarisation of AutoCAD; a 2D design program I had no previous experience with. Only weeks later, I had a strong understanding of the program’s uses and functions thanks to impactful and instructive tutorials.
Progression and improvement in the role
The beginning of my apprenticeship focused heavily on training. Nine months later, I am still progressing and developing new skills to adapt to my role within the company.
Recently, I have undertaken training and skill development with a secondary client to increase my overall skillset. This has allowed me, in return, to tackle a wider variety of tasks and work for the retail space planning team.
It’s evident through my own experiences, the ability to consistently adapt and improve is ever present within CADS. It has also has been an enjoyable experience to boot.
Image: Callum Irving and fellow apprentice Axel Davenport in training at CADS
A personalised approach to training
Everybody learns and develops differently, at their own speed and in their own ways. This is something CADS understands and respects. Each team member’s training is approached with consideration for their own abilities and methods. Training can be adapted to suit an individual’s needs, progressing when the colleague and mentor both feel comfortable with the outcome.
My personal approach to training sees me focus on improving each area of my skills individually before working them together into a complete product. This is an approach the team at CADS understood. My team leader adapted my training to suit this method, focusing on key areas of improvement and challenge.
Continuous learning and growth at CADS
The environment at CADS is one where you never truly stop learning or improving. This can be due to changes in your current work, new projects, or clients. It can also stem from a desire to learn new skills or improve your personal abilities. The colleagues and team at CADS are always striving to improve, adapt and enhance both themselves and the team.
Image: Retail planning at CADS
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Tell me more!Looking back at my apprenticeship at CADS, completing the program in 2026 has been an enriching experience. During this time, I gained hands-on experience, developed new skills, and became part of a supportive team.
A hospitable and friendly working environment
It is widely documented that a positive and welcoming workplace can drive motivation in its colleagues, resulting in stronger outcomes. CADS takes this on board, creating a hospitable and friendly environment for its colleagues with flexibility and adaptability at its core.
Colleagues at CADS regularly highlight the supportive and collaborative culture, where teamwork and open communication are encouraged. The company also promotes a healthy work-life balance, giving staff the flexibility to manage personal and professional commitments effectively.
Enhancing motivation and workplace communication
CADS truly values interaction within its workplace. The company aims to create opportunities for social engagement, evidenced by its push for colleagues to come into the office once a week. I am a stout believer that the attitudes of those around you can have a direct impact on your own.
Working alongside colleagues at CADS who are always energetic and sociable has increased my own motivation. It has also improved my communication within the workplace.
A welcoming workplace & team
My apprenticeship experience with the company over the past nine months has been full of positivity and enjoyment. I have worked alongside people who are sociable and willing to assist whenever possible.
Whilst my role is within the company’s retail planning team, I am continuously interacting with members from across the many teams in CADS. Whether it be communicating about a project or a social chat over a cup of tea, staff are always willing to engage and socialise.
Offering flexibility for all
CADS also values flexibility in the day to day working of its staff. The company advocates a flexible approach to working hours, using the company’s flexitime policy, so that each colleagues can create a good work-life balance.
Staff are offered the opportunity to choose their own start and end times for each working day. They are even able to work differing lengths each day, provided they are available during core hours and meet their bi-weekly contracted hours.
CADS also understands that sometimes, responsibilities and emergencies can occur. The company allows its staff up to an hour of paid time for urgent needs, such as doctors’ appointments or health-related matters. This policy helps alleviate the stress of planning appointments around working hours.
Image: Callum paddle-boarding at CADS’ 40th anniversary celebrations.
Positivity that reaches further
With a flexible workplace populated with sociable and energetic individuals, my placement at CADS has been one filled with positivity and enjoyment. Working for the company has provided me with personal improvements that have had an impact, even outside of the workplace. I am now cycling to work, which has offered me personal benefits whilst not being a burden.
My physical and mental well-being has seen a rise since starting with the company; aided by working in a harmonious environment alongside a supportive team.
CADS apprenticeship: building skills and confidence
Being provided with work that utilises my strengths, while simultaneously building my skillset, has allowed me to become comfortable within the role. It has also enabled me to push my own career boundaries. All these factors have resulted in me feeling more comfortable and being less stressed both within my role and in my personal life.
2025 from learning to full-time impact
Looking back at my apprenticeship at CADS, completing the program in November 2025 has been an enriching experience. During this time, I gained hands-on experience, developed new skills, and became part of a supportive team.
The placement introduced me to a dynamic company environment, a talented retail planning team, and colleagues who made my apprenticeship both enjoyable and thought-provoking.
Apprenticeship Merit
I achieved a Merit overall for my apprenticeship and received high praise for specific areas of my work.
The CADS apprenticeship program covers a wide spectrum of knowledge and skills, allowing apprentices to learn, develop, and showcase their abilities throughout the course. Everyone involved ensured the experience was welcoming, safe, and engaging.
Retail planner at CADS
Now fully integrated as a full-time member of the retail planning team, I have taken on new responsibilities and contributed to key projects, including work with the Primark account. I have also supported the training of new team members, using the knowledge gained during my apprenticeship to guide and shape others’ experiences within CADS.
I look forward to continuing my role at CADS, further improving my skills, and helping the retail planning team deliver successful outcomes for our partners and clients.
Apply to work at CADS
Interested in applying to work at CADS? Get in touch via hr@cadsonline.com – We are always interested to hear from talented and motivated individuals.
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About CADS
CADS provides a comprehensive range of data-driven software and services to capture, manage and optimise space, whether you are a retailer, architect, contractor, public sector or commercial client.
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