Work-Based Learning Report: Student Evaluation at Greggs Placement

This report details a student's work-based learning experience at Greggs, a major UK bakery chain. It begins with a student self-evaluation, assessing abilities, achievements, and preferences relevant to the placement. The report then evaluates the potential placement, providing an overview of Greggs' company profile, mission, and organizational structure, including its functional structure and the external environment using PESTEL analysis. It describes the nature of the work, student roles, and support systems within the placement. The report also examines the application of management theories, such as contingency theory and human relations theory, within Greggs. Finally, it integrates the student's self-evaluation with the placement evaluation to discuss potential career paths, providing a comprehensive analysis of the work-based learning experience.

Work- Based
Learning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
TASK1 Student self evaluation...................................................................................................3
TASK 2 Evaluation of potential placement ...............................................................................4
TASK 3 Self-evaluation and the work placement evaluation what is the career path for you in
the work placement.....................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Work based learning is educational strategy which provide real life work experience to
staff member's within organisation. WBL program are targeted for bridging the gap within
learning and doing (Smith, 2016). This assignment is based on Greggs which is largest bakery
chain in UK and founded in 1939 by John Greegs. They are offering sandwiches, pies, pastries
and other bakery food. This report will going to conduct student self evaluation as well as
evaluation of potential placement. Along with this, evaluation of both in relation of career path
will be discuss.
MAIN BODY
TASK1 Student self evaluation
 Abilities and achievements – I have several abilities which help me in taking better
placement opportunities and conducting work in effective manner. These abilities are
good time management as I can finish up assigned tasked within required duration,
communication skills, understanding perspectives of other which help me in doing work
within team and so on. Apart from this, I have several achievements in academics as first
grade marks scored by me as well as in some extra curricular also I had participated.
 Previous experience – There are several experience of my in college related to
academics as well as extra curricular activities. I had participate in class discussion and
present some of my topics in front of entire college which build up my confidence level
and communication skills.
 Discipline and work related preferences – One of the most required discipline while
working in organisation is time management. So that, assigned task will be completed
within required time durations. Apart from this, work related preference is that selected
candidate have abilities of managing work within effective manner as well as also use
two way communication method. For managing work in better manner and transferring
information in effective manner.
 Any special support requirement – Yes, there is requirement of support because after
completing studies I am sitting in first placement. Thus, my confidence level is getting
litter bit down so I need support for boosting up my confidence. Because low confidence
directly reflect on time and may impact on interview.

 Personality – I am independent which help me in doing day to day activities by myself
as well their will be no requirement of high level support in doing several work.
Although, independent personality is good and help in doing work within effective
manner.
TASK 2 Evaluation of potential placement
1. The placement provider\host institution
Greggs is one of the largest bakery chain in United Kingdom. The company follows tall
business structure which is because it has numerous levels of hierarchy. At Greggs there are
many managers where each manager has small span of control over employees. Therefore,
functional organisational structure is followed by Greggs to carry out its business activities in
order attain overall efficiency for the company (Kennedy and et.al., 2015). Furthermore under
this organisational structure team is managed by an experienced person who have high ability
and skills to adequately understand entire work. It creates high grade of efficiency because
employees are sorted and perform limited and specialised operations.
Company profile - Greggs is largest bakery chain operated in UK. It basically provides
products like: sausage rolls, sandwiches, doughnuts, vanilla slices etc. Company was founded by
John Gregg in 1939. It has around 1900+ outlets has as around 22000+ staff appointed by
company. Greggs have also launched deliver services in major cities. Moreover Greggs is
currently engaged in opening drive thru restaurant for its customers.
Mission of company - Greggs is brand for all that serves freshly baked products to its
customers. Company work hard and influence pace with fast changing demand of customers.
Moreover it has positive impact on people because they provide freshly prepared food
convenient to everyone.
Scope of company - Greggs operates in many parts of world with around 19000
branches. Furthermore company is still growing with aim be consistent with quality of food they
provide. It provides positive impact on people because healthy and hygiene food items are
produced. Moreover Greggs stand for great freshly prepared food at affordable prices and aim at
becoming customers favourite food brand.

Nature of placement work – Job profile is Warehouse operative and nature of work is
mostly PC related such as checking the order and accurate pickup, temperature checking on
loading vehicles etc..
Role and status of student while on placement – Placement is conducted for Job role of
warehouse operative in Greggs company. While conducting placement there are several role of
student so that they will get selected (Baldwin, 2016). Explanation of these roles are as follows :-
 Student have to be in formal because first impression will be the last.
 They have to carry their Curriculum vitae along them. So that, interviewer can gain
knowledge about them in better manner as well as check their eligibility for vacant job
position.
Support of learning – This is after hiring process in which information as well as
understanding will be provided to candidate hired by them. There are several supportive
techniques of learning explanation of these are as follows :-
 Induction is the source of learning by which candidate will gain knowledge about
company as well as their working. Along with this, within induction process job role will
also explained.
 Training session can be off the job and on the job both. Thus, candidate will gain
practical knowledge related to their work through on the job training whereas, theoretical
by off the job training method.
 Library which is most suitable source of gathering theoretical knowledge related to
particular work or several other activities also (Jackson, 2015).
Culture of Host institution – Culture of Greggs company is friendly and they value their
staff members as well as employees also have right to take participation in decision making
process.
2. Organisational structure of the workplace
Organisational structure define activities like task allocation, coordination, supervision
and so on which help in achievement of organisational aims. There are different type of
organisational structure explanation of these are as follows :-
Functional Organisational Structure: This simply defines who works for whom and
who reports to who. It is an organisational structure which is commonly used to organize
workers. Grouping is done based skills and knowledge of workers. Entire organisation is divided

into small departments that are based on specialized functions (Gould and Taylor, 2017).
Therefore, every department have their own executive to whom workers are accountable. The
employees have a clear idea of hierarchy which is followed by an organisation and they fell
secure. Furthermore functional unit of an organisation is responsible for making decision
regarding the aspect of information technology, marketing, development and research. Through
functional organisational structure businesses can earn profit.
Divisional Organisational Structure: Divisional Organisational Structure deals with
activities relating to geographical, product or service groups. Each sub division contains
complete set of function. Moreover it is a structure that splits employees into several segments.
This approach is usually useful for decision-making under division level to react quickly. It is
helpful especially under company that deal in many regions, markets and products. Under this
structure team workers normally focuses on single product that serve as major strategic
objective.
Matrix Organisational Structure: It is an organisational structure under which some
employees report to more than one leader or supervisor that denotes dotted line reporting. Matrix
structure is usually a combination of two or more types of organisational structure (Doel and
Shardlow, 2017). However this structure of management describes cross-functional and business
groups which do not maintain strict vertical business units. Companies that have multiple
business operations and operate globally usually apply matrix structure in different ways. It helps
an organisation to break down traditional departmental barriers and improves communication
across entire organisation. This is a good way of sharing resources across several departments
which make project cost-effective.
Greggs is following Divisional organisational structure in which each and every
department is divided as well as work are allotted according to that.
3. External environment in which the work placement operates
PESTEL analysis is strategic management tool which help Greggs company in
identifying external environment impact on their operations (PESTEL analysis of Greggs, 2019).
Here, PESTEL stands for political, social, economic, technological, environmental and legal. Political factor – This factor play important role in profitability of Greggs Plc within
several country or market. Political factor have some positive impact as from last two
decades respective organisation is gaining benefits of lower taxes policies by western

hemisphere (Billett, 2016). Low taxation result in high profitability as well more
spendings on research and development. In addition to this, regulatory practices of United
Kingdom from last few years has been change because of emerging economies not only
related to market enter but also how retail organisations will operate. Economic factor – It include factors such as exchange rate, labour market condition,
taxation rate, disposable income etc.. Performance of Greggs in related to the economic
performance of United Kingdom. Growth in last two decades built on increasing
globalisation as well as utilizing local resources for catering to global market. Moreover,
exchange rate in UK impact on investment plan of respective organisation not in short
term but also in long term (Han and et.al., 2015). Apart from this, government
intervention in retail industry giving wide impact on the fortune of Greggs in UK. Social factor – This factor involve traditions, demographics, culture, health & safety,
acceptance of entrepreneurial spirit, attitude towards certain services or products etc..
Now days people are becoming more health conscious, this attitude of customers result in
decreasing sale of Greggs. So for minimise such impact respective organisation have to
bring some health food within market. Technological factor – It mainly involve advancement or innovation within
technological factor which result in lowering cost of production. Along with this, through
such advanced technological factor Greggs is able to manufacture fine quality offerings.
But at some level it is not easy always to implement innovation technology because it
result in high cost for respective organisation. Environmental factors – It include several environmental factors such as safe waste
disposal, limiting carbon footprint, climate changes, increasing focus on sustainability
and so on. In UK, government have special norms related to wastage management in
urban areas. So in this Greggs have to pay attention as well as manage waste in effective
manner. Apart from this, before entering in new market or starting new business
respective company have to evaluate environmental standards which are required in
operating.
 Legal factor – This factor play important role in development of retail sector as well
Greggs company have to consider all the legal factors before entering in international

market. Factors involved within this are copyright laws, discrimination laws, intellectual
property right, data protection laws and so on.
4. Theories of management evaluate the management practices in the work placement
There are several theories of management which will be use by manager and leader of
organisation for managing day to day workings within effective manner. Thus, Greggs also
implement such theories in their working explanation of these are as follows :-
Contingency theory – This theory was introduced by Austrian psychologist named as
Fred Edward Fiedler in 1964. contingency theory emphasized importance of both situation and
personality of leader (Zhang and et.al., 2016). Respective theory states that there is no specific
leadership approach because it get modify according to the contingency. Apart from this,
business environment is dynamic in nature and several modification take place which have wide
impact on operations of organisation. Thus, in such circumstances leader have to apply
contingency theory so they can manage situation within effective manner.
Human relation theory of management – It came into existence in 1930 as an reaction
to classical approach for organisational analysis. This theory states that, staff members within an
organisation not only motivated through financial rewards but also through several social factors
such as praise, sense of belongings, feeling of achievements and so on. With the assistance of
such practices organisation can build human relation with their staff members. There are mainly
three elements or feature of human relation theory explanation of these are as follows :-
 The individual – The human relation theory identify significance of individual perception
and emotion. It holds the view that level of staff members production as well as
organisational output will be determine through human relation at workplace (Poonpon,
2017). Not much by the physical and economic condition of work.
 Informal organisation – It Focus on social aspects of man whose overriding requirement
will be consider as a desire to belong, accept and stand well in work group.
 Participative management – It states that manager have to discuss with team and their
informal leader before introducing any type of changes within organisation.
Thus, implementation of these management theory help Greggs in managing their work
within effective manner as well as also result in accomplishing goals and objective of respective
company within effective manner. Moreover, contingency theory will help in managing different

situations in better manner. On the other hand human relation theory of management will result
in managing better relation within business firm and their staff members.
TASK 3 Self-evaluation and the work placement evaluation what is the career path for you in
the work placement
For performing job role of warehouse operative there is requirement of several skills and
I have many of them. Thus, for identifying all these self evaluation will be conducted
explanation of that are as follows: I have time management and communication skills which help
me in conducting daily basis work within effective manner. Whereas, there is requirement of
some more skills for better performance such as problem solving and conflict management
which is also needed. Thus, it is important for me as an warehouse operative to develop these
skills. Along with this, this job profile will help me in gaining better future career opportunities.
Because by warehouse operative my management skills will get enhance more and skills related
to computer work also.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it has been summarised that, work based learning is important
for individual while working in an organisation. Because it help in doing work within effective
manner as well as fill gap between learning and doing. Along with this, external factors have
wide impact on the operation of company which can be identified with the assistance of PESTEL
analysis. Moreover, for proper management there is requirement of implementing management
theories in company.

REFRENCES
Books and Journal
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Baldwin, M., 2016. Social work, critical reflection and the learning organization. Routledge.
Jackson, D., 2015. Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and
best practice. Studies in Higher Education. 40(2). pp.350-367.
Gould, N. and Taylor, I., 2017. Reflective learning for social work: research, theory and practice.
Routledge.
Doel, M. and Shardlow, S. M., 2017. Modern social work practice: Teaching and learning in
practice settings. Routledge.
Billett, S., 2016. Learning through health care work: premises, contributions and
practices. Medical education. 50(1). pp.124-131.
Han, X. and et.al., 2015. Matchnet: Unifying feature and metric learning for patch-based
matching. In Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern
Recognition (pp. 3279-3286).
Zhang, F. and et.al., 2016. Weakly supervised learning based on coupled convolutional neural
networks for aircraft detection. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote
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Poonpon, K., 2017. Enhancing English skills through project-based learning. The English
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Online
PESTEL analysis of Greggs, 2019.[Online].Available
through:<http://blueoceanuniversity.com/frontpage/pestelcoanalysis/18441-greggs>