Mia Bradley is a Sales Support Manager at Peninsula’s Face2Face department, where she supports the sales team and ensures operational efficiency. Her responsibilities include managing processes, supporting revenue growth and team performance, and overseeing apprentices within the department – all while drawing on the knowledge she gained during her own apprenticeship journey.
Prior to joining Peninsula, Mia was in college and working part-time at Morrisons. When she finished college, she began searching for paralegal apprenticeships with aspirations of eventually qualifying as a solicitor. She came across the role at Peninsula on the government website and saw it as the perfect opportunity to gain practical legal experience while earning a qualification. The apprenticeship offered her hands-on work and formal education, allowing her to build a career in law whilst developing the professional skills she would need for future progression.
The apprenticeship provided Mia with valuable exposure to a real working environment, enabling her to apply what she learned directly to her role. Her day-to-day responsibilities included collating relevant case information, drafting invite letters, creating casefiles for consultants, and arranging meetings and hearings for clients with consultants. Through this hands-on experience, she quickly developed a strong foundation in legal processes, client communication and attention to detail. “I gained valuable exposure to a real working environment, alongside gaining practical experience in employment law and HR, while also developing my knowledge through ongoing education,” Mia explains.
The impact
What has Mia apart during her apprenticeship was her proactive mindset and determination to drive positive change. “I think the mindset that I had really helped me get where I am now,” she reflects. “I was very much of the attitude of ‘I want to think of how I can make a change’ – thinking of ways to change processes we had and make them more modern or easier.”
This forward-thinking approach became integral to how Mia approached her work. “As long as you have that attitude and that’s always at the forefront of your mind, then you are naturally going to think of those changes when completing day-to-day tasks,” she notes. Now, as a manager herself, she actively encourages the same innovative thinking in others. “I know that some of the apprentices I manage at the moment have had some ideas for changes and I’m all for it!”
Mia’s dedication and contributions did not go unnoticed. Upon completing the apprenticeship, her knowledge, responsibilities and confidence had grown significantly, which was acknowledged within Peninsula when she was offered a unique opportunity. The Director of the Face2Face department approached her about a newly created role – Sales Support Manager. “The Director of the department approached me and asked me if I was interested to take on the role and essentially ‘support’ the sales team in the background,” Mia explains.
“It was a very different avenue for me to go down but from my experience as an apprentice, becoming a manager was something I was interested in, so I wanted to take the chance! I also thought it was a great opportunity for me to expand my knowledge in another area of the department and was also a great step in my career.” The promotion demonstrated Peninsula’s commitment to recognising potential and encouraging growth from within.
Today, Mia is thriving in her role as Sales Support Manager, where she ensures processes run efficiently while supporting revenue growth and team performance. Her understanding of employment law and HR practice, learned through the apprenticeship scheme, continues to inform her work and adds depth to her management approach. Looking ahead, Mia is focused on continuous development. “I am quite happy in the role that I am in at the moment, so I am looking to further upskill myself, not only in the sales aspect but also as a manager.”
“The excellent support, guidance and development opportunities provided by Peninsula has been central to my progression,” Mia reflects. “Peninsula consistently encourages growth from within and recognises potential from early on. Progressing from an apprentice to a manager has improved my personal development, professional growth and skills development.”
Mia’s journey demonstrates how apprenticeships can open doors to unexpected career paths, unlock potential and create opportunities for progression – whilst delivering benefits to organisations through the development of skilled, motivated leaders who understand the business from the ground up.