Building relationships at work can occasionally be taken for granted. Often we’re thrown together with random people with different lives and interests, if you’re lucky you get along with those you work closely with, if you’re very lucky you might build a friendship.
But how often do people get thrown together on their first day and become best friends both in and out of work?
This is exactly what happened to three of CV Life’s former Modern Apprentices.
Mason Dutton, Matt Devoy and Louis Findlay arrived at the organisation at the beginning of their careers in 2019, the inaugural intakes in CV Life’s new Modern Apprenticeship programme.
Set the challenge of clearing a storage cupboard at the Alan Higgs Centre on their first day, the three of them set about their task, nervously making conversation and trying to get to know one another as they did.
“I think it took about six months for Louis to laugh at one of our jokes,” smiles Mason, who along with Matt is leading the conversation, Louis chipping in occasionally too.
The trio completed their apprenticeship, despite the arrival of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Lockdown in the Spring after they started. Each was given someone to shadow when they started to help them learn the ropes, Ben Tidy mentoring Matt, Ryan Quinn mentoring Mason and former coach and dance teacher Token mentoring Louis.
“All of us were shaped massively by the person we first shadowed,” shares Mason. “When Quinney left Whittle, I took over from him, and seeing him going on to be a venue manager is just a big inspiration.”
“It’s good seeing there is lots of opportunity for progression,” adds Matt, whose own mentor, Ben, has also moved into senior roles, currently holding the position of Education and Curriculum Manager.
The three of them become pally during their apprenticeship, which evolved into actual friendships outside of work, to begin with, largely due to a shared appreciation of the services of the local Wetherspoons.
Pints after work soon turned into Fifa sessions at each others house, which then became nights out, day trips such as spur of the moment mountain climbing in Wales and eventually Lads Holidays.
The three of them have been able to offer each other support during their time with CV Life. This support network, camaraderie and strong work ethic, complemented by their natural people skills, has seen each of them thrive.
But there have occasionally been challenges. Due to the career paths taking similar trajectory, it can be tricky for them to book annual leave that aligns, making the aforementioned Lads Holidays trickier.
They also admit that because they work together and socialise together, they’re often on nights out and realise they’ve spent too much time talking shop.
“I’ve occasionally had to say ‘lads, we’ve spoken about nothing but work for the last half hour, can we change the subject?’, Matt reveals. “Then we’ll move onto something else and within a few minutes we’re talking about something funny that happened at work that day….”
Louis recently took the step up to work closely with Aquatic Business Development Manager Faye James. Now the organisation’s Swim Operations Manager, he focuses less on coaching, but still takes the opportunity to don his coach’s hat when the opportunity arises.
Though Matt and Mason’s day to day meanwhile is much more school-based, working out of Stockingford and Frederick Bird respectively, each have impressed so much in their roles that they are both now Senior Sport and Community Educators with additional responsibility outside of their school work.
They both enjoy the school environment and relish the opportunity to have a daily impact on children. Both also take a hands-on approach with HAF programmes, each having the opportunity to run camps at AT7, something they both admit can be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Head of Community Development Wendy Jackson has kept a keen eye on the progression of Louis, Matt and Mason.
Wendy said: “For me seeing the whole journey from day one to present makes me a proud ‘workmum’.
“For each of them there have been bumps in the road, but what’s made them better people and enabled them to progress is how they have got through those times and the support each of them have given each other.
“Completing an apprenticeship during lockdown was a challenge in itself, but they did it and their success has been supported by the friendship they created at work.
“Louis, Matt and Mason also mentor new apprentices starting their journey, supporting them and sharing stories of their own CV Life journey.
“Working in the education team can be very isolating as generally you are going to your school and don’t have much interaction with other employees so the fact they built the close friendship which brought social opportunities probably helped their journey and still does.
“I very much look forward to the next chapter in their careers at CV Life.”