Customer Service Apprenticeship at The Ark Pet Centre

Summary

The Ark Pet Centre Cowick Street Exeter, are looking for a keen and punctual apprentice to assist customers as well as working with the animals. Duties will include giving customers accurate advice and guidance on products and the health and wellbeing of their pets, plus more.

Annual wage: £9,984 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours: Monday - Sunday with 2 varying days off each week (Working hours may vary). Exact working days and hours to be confirmed.
30 hours a week
Possible start date: Tuesday 7 January
Duration: 1 year 3 months
Positions available: 1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As a customer services apprentice you will be:

Giving customers accurate advice and guidance on products and the health and wellbeing of their pets
Learn our electronic point of sale systems, to complete sales, ordering and refunds efficiently
Manage customer queries, complaints in a timely and professional manner
Maintain and deliver high standards of animal welfare and store cleanliness

Where you’ll work

The Ark Pet Shop EXETER

St Thomas Shopping Centre

Cowick Street

EXETER

EX4 1DG

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Customer service practitioner (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
Demonstrate patience and calmness.
Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
Maintain informative communication during service recovery.

Your training plan

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

More training information

You will be working to the Level 2 Customer Services apprenticeship qualification
Functional Skills in maths and English, if required
All training will be provided on site during your paid working hours
Your day-to-day mentoring will be with your employer, and a combination of online and in person monthly sessions will be held with your Haddon Training Trainer Coach

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental

About this company

The Pet Express online internet pet shop is part of The Ark Pet Centre retail group which comprises 8 pet shops in Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay and the Paignton area. We're passionate about pets and our highly-trained and dedicated staff are also pet owners just like you. The Pet Express and Ark Pet Centres are members of The Pet Care Trust which provides a quality assurance of businesses in the pet care sector so you can be sure you'll receive the best advice and approved products. As pet lovers, we know about pets so we understand your needs and are here to help.

https://www.thepetexpress.co.uk/the-ark-pet-centres (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Apprentices are quite often offered permanent positions following successful completion of their apprenticeship and positive reviews
In the last 12-months we have offered permanent positions to 3 apprentices, one of whom is now a supervisor, one is still carrying out their apprenticeship and one chose to move into a different field after completion
For on-going development, we offer fully funded external courses for employees in birds, fish, reptiles and more

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: