Building new skills, broadening horizons
Career development doesn’t always mean changing roles. Sometimes it’s about stepping into a different part of the business, learning something new and seeing things from a fresh perspective.
For Coral, a secondment opportunity within the Talent and Learning team offered exactly that. Alongside her role as a Specialist Recruitment Partner supporting Product and Technology hiring, she took on a secondment as an Apprenticeship Advisor. What began as an opportunity to learn more about apprenticeships quickly became a chance to broaden her skills, build new connections and deepen her understanding of how learning and development supports people across Entain.
Tell us about your role and the secondment opportunity you took on
My permanent role is Specialist Recruitment Partner, supporting Product and Technology hiring across the business.
Alongside that, I took on a secondment as an Apprenticeship Advisor within the Talent and Learning team. While I initially joined to learn more about apprenticeships, the experience quickly expanded into something much broader. I’ve had the opportunity to support a range of learning and talent initiatives and gain a much deeper understanding of how learning, capability and development come together to support our people and the business.
What inspired you to apply for the secondment?
I’ve always enjoyed helping people develop and reach their potential, so the opportunity immediately stood out to me.
After completing my CIPD Learning and Development Apprenticeship, I was curious to learn more about the learning and talent side of the business. It felt like a great opportunity to challenge myself, learn something new and broaden my experience.
What were you hoping to gain from the experience?
I wanted to better understand the Learning and Talent function and the role it plays in helping people build skills and grow their careers.
I was also looking forward to working with new stakeholders, gaining experience outside of recruitment and seeing a different side of the People function. Most importantly, I wanted to broaden my perspective and learn something new.
What has been your biggest learning so far?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how much thought and collaboration goes into creating a great learning experience.
Learning isn’t just about completing a programme. It’s about helping people build confidence, develop new skills and apply what they’ve learned in a way that makes a real difference in their role.
What’s something you’ve learned about yourself?
I’ve realised how much I enjoy helping people grow and develop.
The experience has also shown me that I’m more adaptable than I sometimes give myself credit for. Stepping into a different team has helped me build confidence, develop new relationships and learn how to add value in a completely new environment.
How has the experience broadened your perspective of Entain?
It’s given me a much wider view of how different teams work together to support our people and the business.
I’ve built relationships with colleagues I wouldn’t normally work with and gained a greater appreciation for the opportunities available across Entain. It’s reinforced just how many ways there are to learn, grow and build a career here.
What skills or experiences will you take back into your permanent role?
I’ve strengthened skills I already use in recruitment, including stakeholder management, influencing and communication, but in a completely different context.
I’ve also developed a broader understanding of talent, learning and capability, and how they work together to support both individual growth and business priorities. It’s definitely given me a wider perspective that I’ll take back into my role.
How has this opportunity contributed to your growth?
The secondment has pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best possible way.
I’ve developed new skills, built my confidence and gained a broader understanding of how learning and talent support the wider business. It’s also encouraged me to keep investing in my own development and continue exploring new opportunities to learn.
What does having access to opportunities like secondments say about Entain’s investment in its people?
For me, it shows that Entain genuinely wants people to grow and develop.
Secondments give colleagues the opportunity to build new skills, gain experience and explore different career paths while staying within the business. It demonstrates trust in people and a real commitment to developing internal talent.
What advice would you give to someone considering a secondment or internal opportunity?
Go for it.
Be open to learning, ask questions and make the most of the experience. Some of the best development comes from stepping into something unfamiliar and discovering strengths or opportunities you hadn’t considered before.
Progression isn’t always about moving up. Sometimes it’s about broadening your experience, building confidence and finding new ways to make an impact.
If you had to sum up your secondment experience in one sentence, what would it be?
The experience has shown me that some of the best career development comes from stepping into something unfamiliar, staying open to learning and making the most of new opportunities.