Project Controller Review

My day to day role is project controller. Daily tasks can range from planning, managing risk and budgeting up to leading my own small projects. Interactions genuinely involve working with engineering staff and coordinating them with company project management process.

Gained a level 4 NVQ in project management, APMP professional qualification and a foundation degree in project management. Learn basic excel skills along with a variety of company specific tools. Dealing with people is a large part of the role so communication skills are always expanding.

The programme is enjoyable and working in the business can be very rewarding. Teams are generally very good to work with and understand you are learning but at the same time will give you challenges. I expected more understanding of the placements we'd be given as they can be quite varied between good and bad.

Rolls-Royce employees value the apprentices they work with very highly but I feel the business as a whole underestimates capability and does too much to pigeon hole apprentices into roles below what they can achieve. This can be very unmotivating

Induction was well structured and this involved the majority of training courses we would need for the first year of the apprenticeship. However, all apprentices are assigned the same courses and not all are relevant. Programme has been very disorganised in the sense that nobody was aligned to a particularly area despite meaning to be and there is no clear process to arrange placements or how/when to come off scheme.

Apprentice development leader(ADL) has too many programmes can struggle to find time to support/respond to emails. However, the ADL does endeavour to support and clearly wants to help.

Placement managers can vary some are very supportive others can be selfish and not consider apprentice needs, such as NVQ criteria. Career mentors are provided at the start of the scheme.

Apprenticeship wage is generous considering the title. For people living with parents it is a good amount but for those who have moved for work especially in their first year could do with more support as they can barely get by.

There is an apprentice and graduate association that organises events regularly that people can get involved with. There is also multiple sports teams. Most areas will also have a social organiser for the teams you are working in to run team bonding events such as going for meals or drinks.

Yes

Strong understanding of apprenticeships on the whole and allows individuals to learn while working. Placements can provide a lot of responsibility getting individuals ready for a substantive role. Rolls-Royce are very good at ensuring their staff get the right qualifications and learning. Pay is pretty good considering it is technically an apprenticeship.

Being prepared and be a strong communicator. You aren't expected to know everything during your interviews but use common sense. Rolls-Royce focus on quality so for any assessment focus on getting questions right not the number you can answer.