Students studying Level 3 Business at Bridgwater College welcomed Lucy Ramseyer Branch Manager of John Lewis Cribbs Causeway to speak about the career path she undertook to get where she is today.
Lucy has worked from the age of 16, she started on the shop floor in Mothercare soon becoming Branch Manager at the age of 19. Lucy’s family is full of successful business owners and Lucy had the drive and passion to be follow in their footsteps and be successful herself.
Lucy spoke about her life leading to her current role as Branch Manager. Leaving Mothercare in 2005 Lucy then joined the senior team of John Lewis in Kingston, London. Gaining a place on the John Lewis summer scheme and then graduate scheme. Lucy changed roles in the company leaving the Kingston store as Head of Branch to Head Office in 2013 where she organised the company’s 150th anniversary celebrations a year later. Moving out of Head Office Lucy took up the positon of Head of Branch at Cribbs Causeway in 2015.
Lucy gave a great insight into John Lewis, many of our students use John Lewis as a case study in their assignments. Lucy spoke about the history of John Lewis, how they were formed and how the visions of the John Spedan Lewis are still prominent today.
In 1929 John Lewis became a partnership meaning all its staff became members too. As Lucy spoke you truly got the sense of how John Lewis look after its staff. The company make sure they listen to their staff, making sure they are doing everything to ensure they have a happy work force. They have an incentive scheme including, holidays, tickets to shows, bonuses and six months paid holiday after 25 years of service.
The Cribbs Causeway store itself is over 150,000 square foot and turnover is in excess of £100 million per year. It is the 5th largest store in the UK with over 800 staff members.
Lucy went on to speak about the future and how retail is adapting to changing customer requirements. With over 40% of its custom online, the company is coming up with new and inventive ideas to keep customers visiting the stores this includes, hair and beauty salons, food halls, opticians and travel agents.
Abbie Brogden, Work Placement Coordinator at Bridgwater College said,
“Lucy gave the students a fantastic insight into John Lewis, focusing on her role and how her determination and work ethic has made her successful. My thanks go to Lucy for a very inspirational talk, our students will benefit greatly as they begin life after College.”
Student Alice Horn from Bridgwater said,
“Lucy was very approachable and welcomed questions. I found her talk extremely beneficial as she explained different routes to gain a management role within a large business.”
If you would like further information about studying Business at Bridgwater College please feel free to contact our Information and Guidance team on 01278 441234.
