What makes Big Yellow different?

The culture, the work and having a common goal. Big Yellow is a medium sized company yet everyone feels like they know each other, due to its open door policy. Everybody is valued and I feel very proud to work for Big Yellow.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I do not have a favourite part of the job because I enjoy the fact that it is varied and each day throws a different challenge. If I had to choose, it would be working with my team, developing team members and seeing them succeed.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge has been my recent promotion from Store Manager to Area Manager and adjusting to the new role.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

I am encouraged to participate at all times in meetings, discussing changes and providing feedback up and down the chain. Discussions on new ideas or improvements are frequent and my suggestions are always listened to and considered.

How has your career developed?

My career has always been developing because there are opportunities if you want them. I started as a Store Manager wanting to progress but soon realised there was a lot to learn about storage. Having identified the skills that are required, I attended the appropriate courses provided by the Company. I subsequently took on another store and became a Dual-Site Manager. During this time, I attended a Development Day to understand my style of management and how to develop in certain areas, which resulted in me applying for an Area Support Manager vacancy. I was successful in my application and it has proved to be a great stepping stone for me becoming an Area Manager.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

It is a great company to work for! If you don’t mind hard work and like to work for an ever growing and evolving company, then this is for you. We love to socialise and celebrate our hard work! The training at Big Yellow is extensive and thorough and the opportunities are there if you want them!

What makes Big Yellow different?

Big Yellow understands that the employees are the most important part of the business, from the directors down, everyone is on a first name basis. The Directors are not only willing to talk to the staff and listen to our views, they actively seek feedback.

Staff are encouraged to share their ideas on how we can improve both our service and policies and are rewarded if these ideas are implemented; this means we all have a role in how the Company runs.

What is your favourite part of your job?

As an Area Support Manager, I get involved with quite a lot within the Company. I do a lot of training and development for various staff, both on and off my area which I find really rewarding. I also really like the fact that I have helped write some of the courses we use.

I am also part of the annual strategy day where the Operations team and the Directors discuss the focus and business strategy for the forth coming year. No matter what position you are around the table, your opinion counts.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My promotion from Store Manager to Area support Manager, was a great achievement and showed that the Company had faith in my abilities and the adjustment provided me a big personal challenge.

My focus changed from one store to helping the Area Manger look after eight stores, whilst still ensuring continued success in my own store.

Luckily I had a great team to work with, both with in the stores and at Head Office.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

In most companies when something is changed, staff in Head Office decide and brief the staff. In Big Yellow it is different, whether we are changing our marketing strategy or how we train our new staff. Head Office uses the experience we have within our Company and staff from across the board may be asked for their input.

In the time that I have been in the Company, I have been involved in many projects. I have worked with IT, HR, the Customer Support Centre and Marketing.

How has your career developed?

I was initially hired to run a medium size store. After 18 months I was promoted to run a larger more challenging store and shortly after I was promoted again to Area Support Manager.

Not only have I attained these positions but the Company has put a lot of time and expense into my own development. I have gained skills that will help me throughout the rest of my career.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

Whether you are looking to join part time or full time you will count, you will not just be a faceless number. Your hard work will be rewarded and the Company will listen to you.

Our Directors have developed the business in such a way that is extremely stable, we own most of our property, which means your job will be secure.

And with the right input from you, you can progress as far as you like in the Company.

What makes Big Yellow different?

Every day you meet people from all aspects of life. We have lots of different conversations with customers and staff and make a lot of friends.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Winning the sale and making the customer feel special, also getting my staff feeling confident and beating targets.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge to date was being promoted from a Sales Assistant to Store Manager. In this position, I have relished the opportunity and have worked and trained a lot of different staff, as a lot of them have been promoted and moved on to different stores.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

Big Yellow actively encourages staff to get involved with a wide range of training courses which help you to develop new skills. Managers are involved in meetings within the Company and continually take on ideas from staff. We have a Bright Ideas Scheme where you can get your own idea passed on to the whole Company.

How has your career developed?

I joined Big Yellow as a Sales Assistant. One year later, I applied to become a Store Manager and was successful. I have become the Forklift Trainer for the area and have helped with some development courses. I have also attended a Store Manager’s Development Centre which was very enjoyable and I received some really positive feedback.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

I would encourage anyone looking for a career with a very varied day to day workload. I would tell them that it is the BEST Company that I have ever worked for and I have worked for quite a few!

What makes Armadillo different?

At Armadillo every person is made to feel valued. You are rewarded with bonuses and Pleasure Points for achieving targets and passing on new business, or for suggesting ideas for improvements. You even get the added bonus of receiving a day off for your birthday! Every colleague, at every level of the Company will always have an open door and you can turn to anyone for support. Armadillo are big advocates of supporting charities. As well as the Company’s recognised charity, every store has an allocated amount of space to help local causes.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Learning new skills as well as motivating, training and coaching my staff so that we can go out there and achieve those targets, whilst at the same time upholding the highest levels of customer service, so that every customer is made to feel special.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge was taking over as Store Manager when I had only been working for the Company as an Assistant Manager for 6 months. I can proudly say that the store is doing well and has grown and moved forward with the same full complement of staff.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

Armadillo actively encourages you to participate in training courses and workshops throughout your career, whether you have been here for just 1 day, or for 10 years! At Managers Meetings, our opinions are listened to, taken on board and we are given feedback. There is also a Bright Ideas Scheme so that any colleague can suggest new ideas to move the business forward and they are rewarded when they do so.

How has your career developed?

I began working for Armadillo in 2009, during which time I have been promoted from Assistant Manager to Store Manager and have developed within this role. I have represented the area at the annual conference and on the charity forum.

With regards to my personal development, I have achieved an NVQ Level 3 in Management and I am looking at taking further qualifications in the future to continue my ongoing development.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

Every person who joins Armadillo is valued. If you are willing to be flexible and work hard then you can take your career as far as you like, as all the tools are there to support you. As long as you are willing to put in the work, the rewards are there for the taking.

I can genuinely say hand on heart that this is the best company I have ever worked for and I have worked for several large retail companies. I would recommend a job with Armadillo to everyone.

What makes Big Yellow different?

Big Yellow cares for its employees and wants people to progress within the Company; to develop themselves and others.

What is your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part of my job is the selling and customer service. I really like it when we get good comments from our customers about the service they have received.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge was the move from Sales Assistant to Assistant Manager. There is a lot more responsibility, new things to learn very quickly and additional tasks to take on. I now do a lot of training within the store which has been great and has helped me to develop and move my team forward.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

Every member of the team in the store is encouraged to participate in store activities and activities within the Company. If you want to go to Head Office for a day, each department is happy to spend time to show people how things are done and why we do them. There are lots of courses to go on, where everyone is encouraged to give their opinions and get involved.

How has your career developed?

My career developed from a Sales Assistant to Assistant Manager within a year. I’ve completed an NVQ Level 2 in Team Leading and an NVQ Level 3 in Retail Management.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

Come and join, it’s a fun and social Company to work for with lots going on and lots of opportunities to develop yourself!

What makes Big Yellow different?

Before going to the interview, I had never heard of Big Yellow! I found it to be different to any other roles that I had performed in the past and felt that I would enjoy the challenge of a new sector in which I had never worked.

What is your favourite part of your job?

It's the not knowing what each day is going to bring, as each one is different. We have certain tasks to perform but we never know what else is going to happen! I enjoy all aspects of the job, from health and safety to administration and I especially enjoy dealing with our customers face to face and over the phone.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Trying to get my Store Manager's job or even the Deputy Store Manager's job!!

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

I am asked to work in other stores when cover is needed and I am able to cover when others are on holiday.

How has your career developed?

I have been trained to the highest standard and the Company gives me all the support that I need to develop into management.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

I would say to anyone who was thinking of joining the Company go for it! Big Yellow is a fantastic Company to work for, they are flexible with the days I work due to child care and they remember your birthday!

What makes Big Yellow different?

Based on my previous experience, the level of involvement within the business from all staff makes the Company different. Everyone is encouraged to have their say and put forward their opinions and ideas. Changes will be implemented if they are good ones, which is a very refreshing attitude and makes all staff feel like they have a real stake in the way the Company develops.

What is your favourite part of your job?

For me the variety, both in terms of where I go and what I do on a daily basis. After eight years with Big Yellow, I still look forward to going to work (almost!) every day.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Adapting to moving out of store management and to working in Head Office, having always been in much more customer facing roles before.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

Through everything from social events, to working parties and Employee Forums. If you want to get involved you can, if you don’t then you can just get on with your job. As long as you’re willing to put yourself forward, you will be encouraged to get involved. Most opportunities are communicated globally, but just asking to get involved is often enough to make sure you get an opportunity.

How has your career developed?

Having come in to the Company as an Assistant Store Manager, I managed to move up from Deputy Manager to Store Manager in approximately eighteen months. Around nine months as a Store Manager then ensued before I was given an opportunity to develop in a different direction, with the introduction of a new position of Store Compliance Manager. This role has naturally developed as the number of stores have grown.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

Give it a go! There is plenty of variety to be had in every role within the Company. Progression is there for anyone willing to make the effort to develop themselves. With our continued programme of store openings, opportunities will only continue to grow and become more diverse in line with the needs of the business.

What makes Big Yellow different?

The way employees are looked after and treated as individuals. The Pleasure Points Scheme rewards you for ideas which may help the Company and also the little things, like you get an extra day off when it's your birthday!

What is your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part of the job is the people I work with and the variety of customers I speak to on the phone.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge has been learning the different aspects of the storage business, to enable me to deal with the variety of questions I get asked.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

Within our department we are always asked for feedback if a new system has been implemented and we are encouraged to come up with new ideas which may help with the day to day running of the office.

How has your career developed?

Big Yellow have sent me on a variety of training courses which has helped to broaden my knowledge on day to day aspects of the job. I have also had the opportunity to experience "life in a store" which let me see a different side to the job.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

The Company is excellent to work for and treats its staff with respect. It also offers lots of additional benefits and incentives!

What makes Big Yellow different?

The openness and honesty. At Big Yellow you are treated equally and you can approach anyone in the company easily. Your hard work is rewarded. Everyone knows each other and helps each other. One experience that I will never forget in my life is when the tsunami happened (I am originally from Sri Lanka), as the support I received from colleagues and the company was tremendous.

What is your favourite part of your job?

My job is so diverse; I enjoy every part of it. It you are getting bored with anything you can always move to something else - this is the great thing!

What has been your biggest challenge?

Juggling the range of different tasks that come with this role, but that’s what makes it interesting.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

Meetings, informal discussions, and the Bright Ideas Scheme (where you can forward your ideas and if the Company adopts them, you are rewarded with Pleasure Points). The great thing is the Company values your ideas and they don’t just fall onto deaf ears, so you always feel part of the Company.

How has your career developed?

I joined the Company as an Assistant Store Manager and then within a few months was promoted to Store Manager. I worked hard and this never went unnoticed. I was promoted again, and have gradually worked my way up to my present position within the Facilities management team.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

Don’t think twice! It is great place, where your hard work is rewarded and at the same time you can have fun!

What makes Big Yellow different?

Big Yellow is an exciting company with a variety of tasks including sales, credit control, administration and last but not least health and safety. The role is positively infectious, as your duties on a day to day basis vary depending on the demand of the store at that time, hence it keeps you on your toes and each day is filled with variety and excitement. Furthermore, Big Yellow permits room for its employees to develop should the individual want to pursue that goal.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy working with a motivated team who always challenge one another to go that extra mile in serving customers or completing administrative tasks. This results in a productive working environment that encapsulates the strengths of all team members.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge to date is negotiating big deals with large firms to provide them the best price and also a long term deal for us too. My Manager would say that I love a challenge and I always feel that I am putting my skills into practice to keep improving.

How are you encouraged to participate and get involved?

There are regular courses to improve our skills where you get to meet colleagues who are sometimes at the same stage of development as you or ahead, which enables you to see how you are developing or seek advice. With regards to the day to day running of store, every team member has a role, so we are all responsible as a team to win and improve together.

How has your career developed?

Big Yellow was an industry I had never entered before but thank goodness I did because it has boosted my skills dramatically and enabled me to make decisions to bring major deals to our team. As a result, I believe that even if I were not to remain at Big Yellow in the future, the transferable skills I have received will take me to greater heights than I ever thought and will widen my career options.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Company?

Don’t think, Just Do it!!!