Angelique James is the first to admit that she struggled academically when she first started her Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship at University of Staffordshire but three years later the picture couldn’t be more different.

Angelique, a HR Warrant Officer for the British Army, has been able to use her studies to bring about meaningful change within her workplace and has now been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

Her course leader, Dr Karen Castle, said: “It is fair to say she struggled with the academic element of the course during the first few modules. It became evident that she struggled with imposter syndrome and found some of the assessments challenging.

“She held a pressured position within the British Army and had to balance caring for three daughters, operating professionally within a high pressured environment and completing the CMDA.

“Ange sought support from University departments as well as from the course team and gradually, she found a confidence in herself and her grades began to improve. Not only this, she found that she was able to suggest improvements and changes in her workplace as a direct result of her own leadership development.

“One such improvement has become evident in her work based project where she has identified some deficits in organisational systems and processes that were having a considerable negative impact on the way the British Army manages some data.

“In investigating this problem, she found that in moving from a directive, transactional leadership approach to a coaching and mentoring approach, she was able to make some significant beneficial change both to the systems deficit and in incorporating a coaching a mentoring model to the leadership strategy for her department.

“This has resulted in a more transformational and collegiate approach across her department. The coaching and mentoring leadership model has created a more inclusive culture in which people of all nationalities feel valued and respected.”

She added: “As her confidence has grown, so too has her influence within her military cohort. Angelique brings energy, positivity, and determination to her role, fostering a motivated and productive working environment.

“She is increasingly recognised as a reliable and capable individual who can be trusted to take initiative, support others, and drive progress. Her ability to engage and inspire colleagues has had a direct and positive effect on team cohesion and performance.”