Hello my name is Mehnaz and I am trading team manager at B&Q Limited and this is my story.

“I had no qualifications. I had no career. I had no confidence. But I refused to let that define me.”

In 2019, I walked into B&Q for my first shift as a part-time checkout operator.

I was 17 years out of work. A mother of five. I had no formal qualifications, no professional experience, and very little belief in myself. For years, my life had been about survival raising my children, navigating personal challenges, and simply getting through each day.

I didn’t know how careers worked. I didn’t know what progression looked like. And I genuinely didn’t believe someone like me could ever move forward. What many of you won’t understand is where I came from I was never pushed in life. But deep down, I always had that fire in me to do well. I poured immense hard work and dedication into every role entrusted to me, showing up to every shift with determination and humility. I feel today it’s important to share this so you can have a bit of understanding of the journey behind the achievements. Confidence wasn’t something I recognised in myself. Leadership wasn’t something I believed was meant for someone like me.

But I took that first step anyway.

And that step changed everything.

Starting From the Bottom and Learning Fast

Working on the checkouts may seem like a small beginning, but for me, it was huge. It was my introduction to structure, accountability, teamwork, and customer service. I observed everything how managers communicated, how targets were set, how performance was measured.

For the first time, I began to understand how businesses operated. Slowly, something shifted inside me. I realised I was capable of more.

In August 2021, I received my first promotion to Front End Supervisor, leading a team of 19 the largest team in the department. I oversaw internet returns, sales, order processing, and maintaining service standards.

Leading 19 people as someone who once doubted her own voice was overwhelming at first. But instead of shrinking, I leaned in. I trained my team on preventing stock loss and encouraged vigilance to minimise theft. I focused on communication, consistency, and trust. I discovered that leadership wasn’t about having all the answers it was about supporting others to find theirs.

Eighteen months later, I was promoted to Team Leader in the Décor department the highest sales turnover area in the store. Within six months, I stepped into the role of Acting Trade Manager. I directed daily routines, managed performance, drove sales, and led a team of nine. It was during this time that I made one of the most life-changing decisions of my journey: enrolling onto a Retail Team Leader Level 3 apprenticeship.

The Apprenticeship That Rebuilt My Confidence

For someone who had missed out on structured education earlier in life, enrolling onto an apprenticeship was both exciting and terrifying. It gave me something I didn’t realise I had been missing - structure, knowledge, and confidence. It taught me time management, conflict resolution, leadership styles, workload planning, and strategic thinking. But more than the technical skills, it rebuilt my belief in myself. It wasn’t easy. I struggled with my end-point assessment project, felt enormous pressure, and even failed my first attempt. Old fears came rushing back. I told myself I wasn’t academic enough. That I had reached my limit.

My manager Sam Mason changed the trajectory of my life. When I joined B&Q six years ago, I was shy, quiet, and unsure of myself. He was the first leader who truly saw me who took the time to ask about my dreams, my aspirations, and what I wanted from life. He reminded me that mistakes are part of growth, that failing once doesn’t define my potential, and that my voice, my ideas, and my ambitions mattered. Because of him, I began to believe in myself in a way I never had before. Sam didn’t just guide me he unlocked the confidence, courage, and determination that shaped the person I am today and the leader I will become one day.

A turning point for me came thanks to a fellow manager, Imran. He saw potential in me even when I doubted myself. He guided me through cultural expectations, helped me break barriers I had struggled to overcome, and encouraged me to embrace my identity fully while chasing my goals. Through his mentorship, I realised that my background and faith were not limitations they were my strengths. He showed me that I could succeed on my own terms, and that believing in yourself, even when others may not, [JS1] can unlock a future you never imagined.

Supportive leadership at B&Q has been a game-changer in my journey. Having managers and mentors who genuinely believed in my potential gave me the confidence to step into opportunities I never thought possible. They guided me through challenges, helped me navigate cultural and professional barriers, and encouraged me to embrace my strengths and identity fully. That support didn’t just help me succeed in my roles it unlocked a pathway for learning, growth, and leadership that I never imagined for myself. It showed me that when leaders invest in people, they don’t just build teams they transform lives.

I chose to rebuild. I studied differently. I believed differently. I showed up differently.

And I passed.

Shortly after, I was promoted to Trading Manager for Building and Hardware, overseeing TradePoint operations and leading another team of nine. In just five years, I achieved four promotions.

Recognition, Resilience, and Breaking Cycles

My journey didn’t start in 2019.

It started earlier during a season that could have easily knocked me off track.

I was already in college when I lost my mum to stomach cancer. It was a challenging time, but instead of stopping, I focused. Education gave me structure. It gave me purpose. It reminded me that even when life feels uncertain, you can still move forward. In 2018, I was nominated for and won Lancashire Adult Learner of the Year. That recognition showed me something important - setbacks don’t define you. Your response does.

In 2019, I joined B&Q, not knowing how much that decision would shape my future.

In 2022, I completed my First Line Manager training. That was the year I stopped waiting to feel “ready” and started stepping into leadership.

In 2023, I completed my Level 3 Retail Team Leader apprenticeship. That same year, I became a finalist in the National Apprenticeship Awards. Standing there as a finalist reminded me that consistent effort even when no one sees it builds momentum.

Then 2024 became a breakthrough year.

I was selected for the IWILL# Elevate Leadership Programme one of just 12 chosen from 140 applicants and the only one who wasn’t already a signed-off manager.

I could have doubted myself.

Instead, I chose courage.

And I went on to win the final presentation.

That moment wasn’t just about winning it was about belief. Belief that I belonged in rooms that once felt intimidating.

In 2024, I was also a Spirit of B&Q finalist and proud to win Apprentice of the Year with Lifetime Training. Those milestones weren’t luck. They were built on resilience, growth, and showing up consistently.

Along the way, I became a Regional Gender Equality Representative. I filmed with ITN to represent apprenticeships and my organisation. I led Lean in Circles to create spaces where women could speak openly about leadership and confidence because when one woman rises, she brings others with her.

In 2025, I was a highly commended finalist at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards.

And just a month ago, I was personally approached by the CEO of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and invited to represent B&Q on a national stage.

From finalist… to representing nationally.

That’s the power of not giving up.

In 2026, I represented B&Q at the Lifetime Training Awards in a fireside chat, sharing how my apprenticeship journey transformed my career and my confidence.

Beyond my organisation, I’m also a digital participant with UN Women because leadership isn’t just about progressing yourself. It’s about creating change.

And now, I’m completing my Level 5 Women in Leadership apprenticeship.

But here’s the real reason behind all of it.

I’m doing this for my girls.

So they can grow up seeing that their mum didn’t stop when things were hard.

So they can see that learning never ends.

So they know that if Mum can do it they can too.

Every qualification.

Every stage.

Every uncomfortable room I walked into.

It wasn’t just for me.

It was to model resilience.

To model courage.

To model possibility.

Because setbacks don’t have the final say.

Determination does.

And I’m still rising not just for me, but for them and all the women out there who missed out on education.

A Message to Future Apprentices

My story is not just about promotions.

It is about breaking cycles.

It is about reclaiming identity.

It is about proving to my children and to myself that it is never too late.

If you are reading this and feel behind, underestimated, or unsure of your ability, please hear this:

An apprenticeship is more than a qualification. It is an opportunity to rebuild your confidence, reshape your future, and discover strengths you didn’t know you had.

I started as a mum of five with no qualifications and no belief in myself.

Today, I am a leader, a manager, an award-winning apprentice, a highly commended finalist for the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2025, and a role model. I am continuing to grow through my Level 5 Women in Leadership apprenticeship, and I am still learning how to lead, inspire, and create opportunities for others. If I can take that first step after 17 years away from work then you can take yours. Your starting point does not define your destination. Resilience, focus, and determination can take you further than you ever imagined. Sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity and the courage to say yes. And remember: the only limits that exist are the ones you place on yourself.

Mehnaz Akhter

Trading Team manager /Gender Equality Rep/Award winning Apprentice/ Apprentice of the year 2024 with Lifetime Training/ Finalist Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2025/Advocate for Women / UN Women Uk participant. 

You can find out more and connect with Mehnaz on LinkedIn.