Do you remember the moment you first decided to pursue a career at the company you now work for? My first encounter with Enterprise wasn’t as a job seeker, or a disengaged employee at my previous company – I was their customer.
That experience didn’t just make me consider a career at Enterprise; it was also representative of the overall culture that has kept me working here happily for over 11 years – a culture where all kinds of women are able to thrive. I want to share with you the highlights of my time here so far, showing you in the process why I think Enterprise is such an amazing company for women to work for.
Joining a company that set me up for success
I, unfortunately, found myself needing Enterprise’s services following a car accident, but to my surprise, the employee who picked me up would make a career-defining good impression. They told me they’d just started there, shared some of the fantastic opportunities offered already, and did so with an authentic smile. I could see this was someone who loved their employer, so I decided to find out what all the fuss was about.
My university degree was in Fashion, but the industry’s culture didn’t fit with me so I wanted to apply my skills elsewhere. I was excited to be looking into a company that had already proven itself to be authentic and welcoming. I liked what I found, so I applied for the Graduate Management Training Programme, and from the minute I arrived, I saw what that employee was talking about.
In my first week, I was given a ‘Buddy’ – someone at the latter stages of the very same management training I was just starting. On top of that, I was also assigned a more formal mentor from higher up in the business for more organised assistance and feedback throughout my training.
There’s also a comprehensive training manual for the whole business. What’s great is that while you obviously get a detailed look at the workings of your area, you also get a wealth of materials on every area of the business. From HR to Marketing, and Sales to Profit/Loss, the context you need to understand your part in the bigger picture is right at your fingertips.
That business understanding is reinforced by the fact that all Graduate Management Trainees start in a branch. Whatever function you work in, you’re working for a car rental business, so you’d better know what you’re supporting. Some people stay there, others move to head office – it’s really up to you. Your branch manager helps you plan your potential career path at Enterprise early on so you can get an idea of where you might go within the business.
Why I’ve stayed for over a decade
I’d gone from Graduate Management Trainee to Assistant Manager, Branch Manager, and then Area Manager, all thanks to my hard work and the on-going support of my company and colleagues. A memory from my time as an Area Manager captures that working relationship perfectly.
As an Area Manager, I encountered the challenge of frequent public speaking – something I’d always feared. I voiced that concern with my manager, and without hesitation, I was offered extra training through an external course. To put what I’d learned there into practice, I was tasked with leading our local Women In Rental Team. This meant organising events and presenting to over 50 women from the business; an achievement I’m still so proud of.
Another challenge concerned work-life balance and parenthood following maternity leave – once I became a mum, I wanted to both return to Enterprise and be there for my child. I once again raised this concern with my manager, who was incredibly helpful in allowing me to scale back my schedule to work 3 days a week.
What impressed me most about Enterprise’s handling of this issue was that the conversation was always constructive and I never felt pressured. That’s what you get when honesty and integrity are the foundation of a company’s success – employees and management negotiating as people without hierarchical bias. I’ve now been working this routine for 5 years, had a second child, and even progressed to a new role!
Helping others the way Enterprise helped me
That role is as a Recruitment Specialist for the North East and Cumbria. You could say I’ve gone full circle; from joining the company thanks to the enticing review one of its employees gave, to championing its culture and bringing more people in myself.
As the Enterprise family grows, crucially it remains just that – a family. The Taylor family are still integral to the organisation, and our current CEO, Chrissy Taylor is committed to its vision. As a female leader with growing ambitions, having that kind of role model at the top level is a breath of fresh air in the corporate sphere and helps create an environment where women can really thrive. For any ambitious women looking to launch an exciting career, I’d say Enterprise is the place to be – join our graduate programme in a location near you by searching all our available opportunities across our 470-strong UK branch network.
