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Marcus Dodd, Supplies Assistant- Cumbria Constabulary

Marcus has been chosen as the Apprentice of the Month for July 2023 by his Progress Mentor and SRSCC Apprenticeship Manager, in acknowledgment of his dedication and efforts. His commitment to the L3 Procurement and Supply Chain Assistant Apprenticeship has been exemplary.

Learn more about his enriching journey and experiences during his time at SRSCC below.

Before starting your apprenticeship, did you know what to expect or have any concerns about studying an apprenticeship?

 
“I felt that the work covered may be challenging because this was a totally new area for me, but I found that I had great support from both those internally within my organisation, and those from the SR team. “

 

 

Have you used Cognassist? If so, did you find it useful?

 
“I used Cognassist at the start of my apprenticeship within my onboarding. I found this aspect of the onboarding to be very interesting.”

 

 

How does the support you receive at SRSCC help you in working towards your Apprenticeship?

 
“I found that this enabled me to understand more about the ways in which I think and learn individually. I also found that I could then discuss about the test with my mentor at the time to further clarify areas I perhaps struggled with.”

 

 

Have you experienced any struggles or tough moments along the way? If so, how have you overcome them?

 
“Within the apprenticeship, I have had to overcome many challenges like maintaining consistency with my revision and staying on top of my Aptem work. However, I believe this has enabled me to develop my skillset especially within organising my time effectively! The exams and the topics covered are always another big challenge, but I have really enjoyed the challenge and having the ability to further my professional development with the aid of SR.”

 

 

How has the Apprenticeship help you grow as a person and develop your professional skills?

 
“This apprenticeship has enabled me to develop so many different areas both professionally and individually. I personally have found that this course has enabled me to develop my confidence especially when speaking to people from different companies. This has also subsequently helped with my professional development, as it has helped to give me a wider understanding of the procurement and supply chain industry on a much wider base that that of my own. I have felt that I have been able to develop myself as a person over the last year with SR being a huge part of that.”

 

 

Have you had the opportunity to apply what you’ve learnt in real-world scenarios?

 
“I have been fortunate to be spending more time with a variety of different individually internally. This has therefore given me a great opportunity to not only have a stronger foundation of some of the subject terminology discussed but also collectively within understanding how for example, tenders and public sector procurement operates. One example most recently was that of helping with an ongoing IT tender, where I was able to apply knowledge I had learnt in the classroom, to a real-world scenario!”

 

 

What are you enjoying most about your apprenticeship experience?

 
“Currently I really enjoy meeting and engaging with all the different people from my cohort. I find that I can learn a lot off them and have found each of them to have different knowledge, which I can use to develop myself within both a professional and personal way. Initially I thought that these interactions would be awkward and daunting, but I have consistently enjoyed each the challenge of them.”

 

 

What advice would you give to someone contemplating whether to enroll onto an Apprenticeship?

 
“I would say give it your best, you will need to stay organised and be prepared to work hard. However, with all that being said – there is a fantastic team of people at SR, who will support you and will be there to offer advise and guidance throughout the apprenticeship.”

 

 

Have you considered continuing with the next level of study? Would you remain on Apprenticeship route or choose the commercial pathway?

 
“My aim to continue to complete the CIPS qualifications after I have completed my current Level 3 apprenticeship. I aim to continue with the apprenticeship side, as I believe this gives me a great opportunity to target the knowledge, I have learnt in lessons with SR into my off the job work within my own organisation.”

 

 

Marcus’ Line Manager added…

“Marcus has really applied himself throughout his apprenticeship and has been well supported by SRSCC.”

 

 

Well done, Marcus! We look forward to following your next chapter on the L4 Commercial Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship with SRSCC.

 
 
SRSCC and the Apprenticeships they provide have, without a doubt, helped develop our Procurement Team who in turn have transformed the Commercial Department. SRSCC provided expert tuition and, important to ensuring personal growth, mentoring support.

The Team have increased their abilities and confidence and are now all successfully operating as professional Business Partners and members of Senior Leadership Teams in Commercial and DDaT Departments.
Barry LeightonHead of Commercial Services
Barry Leighton
SRSCC and the Apprenticeships they provide have, without a doubt, helped develop our Procurement Team who in turn have transformed the Commercial Department. SRSCC provided expert tuition and, important to ensuring personal growth, mentoring support.

The Team have increased their abilities and confidence and are now all successfully operating as professional Business Partners and members of Senior Leadership Teams in Commercial and DDaT Departments.
Barry LeightonHead of Commercial Services
Barry Leighton
Prior to the Apprenticeship, the Team undertook various training courses while operating at different levels. Since the Apprenticeship program commenced the Team has become more aligned saving the Constabulary £3.6m while reducing risks and awarding many compliant contracts.

The Team also managed supplies during the Pandemic ensuring 100% delivery of PPE and requirements for agile working while installing the Oracle system, with the Apprenticeship being a key factor in enabling the Team to deliver this
Barry LeightonHead of Commercial Services
Barry Leighton

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Bethanie Stimpson SRSCC

Bethanie Stimpson

Progress Mentor

Bethanie began her career in the fitness industry, working as a personal trainer and gym instructor before becoming involved in coaching children through a triathlon club. This experience sparked her passion for working with young people and ultimately led her into a career in education. She initially worked in a nursery and later as a one-to-one teaching assistant in a primary school, before completing her teaching qualification and postgraduate studies. Since then, Bethanie has taught in both the private and state education sectors.

Her academic background includes a qualification in Sports Development, Fitness and Coaching at college, alongside a Childhood & Youth undergraduate degree (2:1). These studies have enabled her to combine her interests in sport, education, and child development, shaping her holistic approach to teaching and mentoring.

Bethanie is passionate about supporting learners to achieve their goals — educationally, personally, and in terms of wellbeing. She places strong emphasis on communication and relationship building, and takes great pride in helping individuals build confidence and overcome challenges. One of her proudest achievements has been supporting learners who initially doubted themselves to grow in confidence and achieve success.

Outside of work, Bethanie has always maintained a strong interest in sport. She previously competed in triathlons and now focuses on running and swimming. In 2023, she completed the London Marathon — an achievement she is particularly proud of. She also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their two dogs, which is where she is happiest when not working.

Ola Kambul

Skills Coach

Ola began her career in supply chain within fast-paced warehouse and logistics environments, where she developed a strong understanding of operations and people management. Her journey into the Supply Chain sector wasn’t planned, but through hands-on experience she discovered a passion for improving processes and supporting others – which naturally led her into training and development.

She has progressed through a range of roles across operations, recruitment, and training, including Programme Coach and L&D Lead. She designed and delivered apprenticeship programmes, supporting over 40 learners to successful completion and contributing to strong quality outcomes and inspection success.  Her transition into mentoring was driven by a desire to make a direct impact on people’s confidence, growth, and career progression.

Ola’s mentoring style is supportive, structured, and empowering. She combines real operational experience with coaching expertise, helping learners apply knowledge in practical workplace settings. One of her proudest career achievements has been supporting learners who started with low confidence to achieve distinctions and progress into new roles within their organisations. She has also led a UK-wide Mental Health First Aider network, embedding wellbeing into workplace culture and supporting colleagues through challenging situations.

From day one, she shares a consistent message with every learner: “You’re more capable than you think – but you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to see it.”

Outside of work, Ola enjoys walking with her Border Collie, Luna, and cross stitching. She recommends Legacy by James Kerr to anyone in supply chain, for its powerful insights into leadership and culture. If she wasn’t working in mentoring and development, she would likely be pursuing a career as a Visual Merchandiser.

Jack Callaghan

Jack Moore

Operations Team Leader

In December 2023, Jack joined SRSCC as an Operations Coordinator and quickly established himself as a key member of the team.

Promoted to Team Leader in October 2024, Jack utilises his expertise in auditing processes and innovative problem-solving to identify and enhance growth opportunities.

Jack possesses a strong ability to analyse and refine systems and procedures, consistently uncovering chances for streamlining and automation that drive operational efficiency. He excels at communicating complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Detail-oriented yet big-picture focused, Jack applies his exceptional organisational skills to ensure the team adopts the most effective strategies for achieving both individual and collective goals.

His methodical approach and strategic mindset make Jack an invaluable asset to SRSCC, significantly contributing to the team’s success and the realisation of organisational objectives.