Project Controller Review

I am studying a Project Management apprenticeship alongside a degree from Lancaster University in Project Management. I'm currently in a Project Control placement managing and reporting on costs and schedules alongside various stretch assignments provided by the business outside of my day to day role. My daily interactions include within the project control team, with my contract's owner and amongst other members of the project management function in my department.

Particularly within this placement I have learnt how to use new pieces of software including Microsoft Project. Throughout the last 6/7 months in this placement my Microsoft Excel skills have come on leaps and bounds from the base I built up last year. I have been exposed to Earned Value Management for the first time since working at BAE.

Whilst work can sometimes be a bit slow, I recognise this isn't down to poor management but rather overall working conditions. This is my only complaint. I've been very happy with the team and office I've found myself in since January. They're exceedingly supportive and knowledgeable, and I'd never be hesitant about approaching them with an issue or problem.

I think within BAE as a whole recognition and praise is probably slightly lacking and hard to come by. In this team however that's a fact that is recognised, and I have a good personable relationship with both my boss and his boss. I feel like my inputs are listened to and valued and feel able to contribute to discussions and to solve problems within the team.

I think the work-based part of the apprenticeship is well organised but the college aspect of it is more loose. Within work the reporting within the team is very clear, but also it's possible to go straight to people higher than just one rung above you in the ladder. I haven't taken advantage of the mentoring scheme as of yet but have heard good things. I think support within work is readily available.

The offer of support from the training provider is there, however I tend not to use it as I often find myself believing the support isn't worthy of the time. I am in a unique situation of having already completed education above the level that we are trained at at the moment however, so I don't think this is a sentiment echoed throughout all members of the course.

Within work it's good to have two separate channels to go through with your placement line manager and the scheme management team as well. There's good careers guidance support and talks put on by the PM function with regards to planning out your future. I've not particularly had to use the support network laid out for me, but it's good to know that it's there to be used.

It is tough to make my salary meet all my costs. I do however live on my own, a bit of a rarity on the scheme, and live a 50 minute drive from work meaning my travel costs are higher than most. As I go through the scheme and my pay increases it'll start to more easily cover my expenses. I recognise we are well paid for the role that we're in.

I'm able to play a fair amount of sport with people from work on an informal basis, particularly during the summer months. The team building week at Outward Bound Trust was a particular highlight of the scheme so far for me. There is an active charity team who put on regular events. However I'm not exactly blessed with time so keep things like this to a minimum

Yes

BAE offers a good base to grow skills and your career alongside real opportunities to experience things in a large business that you don't get within other corporations. The scheme and its members are managed personally and you feel like you always have someone to go to. It is well paid for someone coming onto the scheme aged 18 and allows for a debt free degree.

With the assessment days make sure you focus on the definition of both project control and project management. The scheme is called Project Management however there's a heavy Project Control focus still. I'd encourage any people applying to highlight any team based work, or sports coaching or alike on their CVs as that's a sought after quality by the interviewers. I think just to ensure you talk to everyone you can, and become on good terms with as many people as you can as early as possible to create a good support network within your role, as you will need it early on.