As National Apprenticeship Week continues, we explore how Gamma’s apprenticeships are shaping leadership skills, workplace culture, and professional development. This year’s theme – skills for life – is especially relevant to those using apprenticeships to strengthen their management approach and prepare for future opportunities.
To discuss this, Steve Baker-Wise, Early Careers Manager, sat down with Ross Craig (Team Leader) and Blair McWhinnie (Team Leader) to explore how structured learning is refining their leadership styles, improving team dynamics, and shaping their professional growth at Gamma.
Developing leadership skills with purpose
For Ross, taking part in an apprenticeship has meant reevaluating how he approaches both his own work and the way he supports his team.
“I’m the kind of person who always finds something to do,” Ross explains. “If I have five minutes free, I’ll fill it. Before this apprenticeship, I never took a step back to focus on my own development – I felt like I had to be constantly available, constantly productive. But working through this process, I’ve had to change that mindset. I now set aside time to study, reflect, and apply what I’ve learned. “
Blair shares a similar shift in perspective. “Before, I was always balancing immediate demands – just making sure things got done. This apprenticeship has forced me to look at things differently: where I’m spending my time, how I’m guiding my team, and what long-term improvements I should be focusing on. It’s made me approach leadership in a more deliberate way.”
The challenge of balancing learning and management
Juggling leadership responsibilities with structured learning presents challenges, but Ross and Blair both agree the experience has been valuable in shaping their management style.
“At first, I thought blocking out time for study would put me behind, but the opposite happened,” Ross says. “When you put dedicated time into developing skills, you don’t just get through the work – you get better at it. I’ve been able to refine how I prioritise tasks, which has actually made my day-to-day work more effective.”
Blair highlights how apprenticeships offer more than theoretical knowledge. “It’s not sitting in a classroom learning abstract ideas. The modules tie into what we do every day. I’ve found that I’m applying new ways of thinking immediately after learning them.”
This integration between study and real-world work is something Steve is keen to emphasise. “Apprenticeships aren’t about stepping away from the job to learn – they’re about building skills in a way that makes a tangible difference in how work gets done. The link between learning and application is immediate.”
Leadership growth and career progression
For both Ross and Blair, their apprenticeship is also about preparing for what comes next.
“The role I want doesn’t exist right now,” Ross explains. “I could sit and wait for the right job to open up, or I could spend this time becoming the person who’s ready for that opportunity when it does. I chose the second option.”
Blair agrees, adding that developing these skills makes a difference beyond career progression. “This is about being more effective in my role now and understanding what’s required to take on more responsibility in the future. Whether or not a new opportunity comes up immediately, I know I’ll be in a much stronger position when it does.”
For Steve, this is the core value of Gamma’s apprenticeship programmes. “These programmes give people structured opportunities to build their expertise and develop the mindset to take on more responsibility – whether that’s in their current role or something new down the line.”
Strengthening teams and setting an example
Both Ross and Blair note that their experience is having a knock-on effect across their teams.
“I’ve had to delegate more, which has given others in my team a chance to step up,” Ross says. “It turns out that when I take a step back, it actually helps the team grow. There’s more independence, more problem-solving without everything being escalated. That’s been a big shift.”
Blair adds that the learning process has also prompted more conversations about leadership across his department. “We’re seeing more of a focus on development, more people asking about opportunities to build skills. I’ve had conversations that probably wouldn’t have happened before I started this.”
Looking ahead
As their apprenticeships continue, both Ross and Blair are optimistic about the impact it will have on their work.
“At the start, I saw this as something that would help me progress in my career,” Ross reflects. “Now, I see it as something that’s changing how I work every day. The benefits aren’t in the future – they’re happening now.”
Blair nods in agreement. “This has made me rethink how I approach my role. It’s not about ticking off tasks – it’s about setting up better ways of working. That’s the part I’ll carry forward, no matter what’s next.”
As Gamma continues to invest in leadership apprenticeships, the long-term value is clear – not just in individual career progression, but in the way these programmes are shaping stronger, more dynamic teams across the business.
Please reach out to your line manager if you’re interested in exploring a Gamma appenticeship.