Luca Macleod-Watts

I first picked up this job aged 16 with little knowledge involving working, and maintaining a job. This job provided me with initial understanding around responsibility, time management, customer service, and then my own financial literacy. As I've grown my responsibilities have increased; managing departments, stock levels and making sure shelves are always fully loaded. I am able to complete any task to a higher standard and consider myself an incredibly experienced and reliable worker. The job has served me well throughout my schooling and university years, providing a flexible schedule around my studies. I took a break from working here during my gap year, but returned again once I started back at University.

For the past four seasons I've coached with the football academy at Nomads United, based in Bishopdale. I've gained valuable leadership experience through coaching, managing as many as 18 players through multiple weekly trainings, match days, and tournaments around the country. I've had to strategically plan three trainings a week, as well as help squads of teenagers deal with the other issues that come with the age. I thoroughly enjoyed my years coaching, and the responsibility and fulfilment that it provided. However, I won't be continuing in 2025 as it requires a lot of commitment, which with working full-time I will be unable to give.

After finishing highschool, I took a gap year while still deciding on my next steps, and ended up finding work as a bricklaying labourer. The job was incredibly physically demanding and mentally challenging, especially the winter mornings and long days. However, I ended up enjoying the work, and I learnt a lot about hard work and discipline. I was responsible for: loading out the site, making sure there was enough bricks and scaffolding set up to finish the job, cutting the bricks and making cement, and making sure the site remained orderly and tidy.