James - Intern to General Manager

I joined as a summer intern, thinking that it would be just that. However, I was given a lot of responsibility that summer and ultimately asked to go to Dubai with Chris, the CEO, to support the business over there whilst the management team were taking a well deserved break. Following the trip Chris offered me the opportunity to come back as a graduate after I finished university which I gladly accepted. Once back I worked in various departments including service, sales, procurement, and finance which culminated in me being the Business Development Manager for the North and the Midlands. During this time I was offered the opportunity to move out to Abu Dhabi to help expand our business in the Middle East where I worked for a year and a half before accepting a role as General Manager for the UAE. Reading back on this now it sounds like a really a fast development but there was a very supportive team in the business who helped guide me to the position I am in now which is the General Manager for the Netherlands, having opened the branch in June 2021 during COVID. Fast forward 3 years and we have a team of 15 people covering the Benelux and we are opening in Germany later on this year!

I had worked quite closely with George and Adam who had both joined the business in similar ways, Adam as an intern and George as a graduate, and seen the success that they had in moving to the UAE and Qatar respectively to expand MCFT globally. This really excited me and I felt that if I worked hard and performed then I would be able to take the same opportunities which has worked out that way.

I was exposed to senior management quite early in my career which gave me a really great insight into how different challenges that you come across in business can and should be dealt with. Coupling this with the numerous courses, seminars and presentations that I have been able to attend because of MCFT has really support me in all of the roles I have had.

Get stuck in, ask questions and be curious. As I am sure others will say, there are plenty of opportunities in this company for those who are willing, and prepared to put the work in – I have gone from Maidenhead – Abu Dhabi – Netherlands, so really, anything is possible.

I think it is so important now that you get experience as early as you can with so many people having degrees and certificates these days. Working in a business is really different from being taught about business so having the experience of an internship can really highlight you as a candidate when we are making selections for new hires.