IT Shadowing – Opportunities to Learn
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Published 17 Jan 2023 in Colleagues
Opportunities are there if you ask for them! Late last year, IT Support Services hosted a few IT shadowing sessions for two Food colleagues after they expressed an interest in learning more about how they impact the Society. Lyn Shorey, IT Project Manager explains a little more about the sessions.
Shadowing IT colleagues – how it came about
As we came to the end of 2022, IT had the chance to host some IT Shadowing sessions for 2 colleagues: Natalie Bradbury – Workforce Management Support and Karl Shellem – Team Leader at Northway Food. Natalie had spoken to her line manager about wanting to develop in a more technical way and Karl had attended the Retail Career Roadshows in July and expressed an interest about working in IT. The aim of the sessions was to inform them what exactly IT is all about and to allow some of the IT members to sit with them and explain how they got into IT and run through the elements of their individual IT roles.
Natalie from Workforce Management Support and Trevor from CIT
Learning from the team
Natalie had the chance to spend time with the Business Development Team: Sam Chaundy, Tina Wells and Ali McCreery and then with Shin Thandi and Trevor Hemmings from the Technical Support Services Team. Where as Karl spent his time with Food IT: Tracy Edwards, Karen Smith, Ilana Wormald, Chris Davis and Stephen Vale.
Both Karl and Natalie had the opportunity to attend the Food IT Weekly Huddle. Our 3rd party Supplier Symbol join the first part of this meeting to talk through any particular Food IT Service Now tickets, raised by colleagues, that they have supported to resolve.
Chris from CIT, Karl - Team Leader from Northway Food and Steve from CIT
The feedback
Natalie said that the sessions really helped to understand the IT business area and how it interlinks with her current work area. It was also useful to know more about IT when thinking of her own career development and where she may like to move to.
Karl now has a greater understanding of how IT problems in stores are dealt with sometimes even before the store is aware of them! He also experienced how IT aim to keep disruption to systems and services to a minimum when he attended the IT Change Approval Board meeting. Karl also echoed Natalie’s point about the shadowing experience giving him the knowledge to help him get where he would like to be.
From an IT perspective it has been good to advise colleagues exactly what goes on in IT and provided a great opportunity for our teams to network.
Tina and Trevor from CIT along with Natalie - Workforce Management Support (centre)
Continuous Learning - Kate and Phil
Kate Lamb, Talent and Leadership Development Manager added:
We know from the recent Ideas Workshops that many of our colleagues are curious about potential opportunities in other trading groups or functions in the Society but don’t know how to get a foot in the door. Phil spoke in a recent video about the ideas colleagues have shared with us to help us bridge the gap and realise our ambition of a succession and continuous learning environment.
If you missed it, you can view the video here.
We listened to your feedback and are working hard behind the scenes to make changes that we hope will nurture curiosity and ambition and drive greater opportunity and career flexibility for all colleagues so watch this space!
It’s great to see Natalie and Karl reaching out to colleagues in IT to learn more about the skills needed to work in the function and describing how their new knowledge adds value in their current role and to their personal development. It’s a shining example of how a small amount of invested time can make a big difference and build greater capability and skill from within; a big thank you to all the colleagues who helped facilitate this opportunity for Natalie and Karl.
So, if you’re curious and ambitious, request a career check-in with your line manager today and start a conversation that might take you on a different journey with us.