GA Fixings

Ryan Cotney, Operations Manager Level 5, 13/08/2026

When I signed up for the course, it was very daunting at first, but after the first meeting I felt more confident.

I have really enjoyed the Operations Manager Level 5 course so far and have found it very relevant to my role as a Production Manager. A lot of the subjects we have covered relate directly to situations I deal with in my everyday working life, which has allowed me to put what I have learnt into practice straight away.

One good example has been recruitment. Following the recruitment module, I developed a more structured recruitment strategy for our business. We are currently experiencing a skills shortage, particularly with welding, so we have started looking at different recruitment routes, including apprenticeships and upskilling existing employees.

I have also used what I have learnt to improve our management meetings. I already chair our company Management Review Meetings, but the course helped me look at how I could improve the structure of the meetings, delegate responsibilities more effectively and make actions and timescales clearer.

The course has also helped me develop in areas such as communication, conflict management, employee performance, resilience and leadership. I feel I am becoming more confident in reflecting on how I manage different situations and looking at what I could do better.

Sandra has been very supportive throughout the course. She is approachable, explains things clearly and is always available when I need guidance with an assignment or I am unsure about what is required. Her support has helped me relate the course content to my actual job role rather than simply completing assignments for the qualification.