Project Management Higher Apprentice Review

In my current role on the apprenticeship I am providing support to the project manager of a large and complex project within the Maritime Services Business Unit of BAE Systems. This includes regular contact with the UK MoD, attendance of supplier reviews off-site, key interactions with the bid process and day to day activities such as planning and monitoring spend.

The placement I am currently on has provided me with significant opportunities to improve my existing skills as well as developing new ones. Since joining the team, I have been able to fully participate in all project activities whether that relates to commercial, engineering or supply chain activities. In turn, this has enabled me to improve my personal and professional development due to engaging in activities that have improved my confidence in my own ability.

I am thoroughly enjoying the team I am currently working in. There is a culture of continuous improvement and an embrace of any change that may arise. In addition to this, the level of expertise and knowledge within the team is excellent for an apprentice, as I am able to learn from individuals that have significant experience.

As an apprentice I feel incredibly valued. We are frequently referred to as the future of the company and there is tangible evidence of the investments BAE Systems makes into our futures. This is evidenced in training opportunities, placement opportunities, recognition of performance in PDRs and Early Careers Celebration Events.

On the whole, it is well structured. Due to the Programme still being relatively new to Portsmouth, I still think we are experience teething problems. Communications are sometimes disjointed and processes may not be rolled out as smoothly as they could do. Perhaps this is due to the lack of managerial resource that is allocated to an ever-growing number of apprentices. Although, this does seem to be increasing so perhaps it will change in the near future.

The support we receive from our training provider has improved significantly since the replacement of our previous lecturer. Our current lecturer is open to us scheduling sessions whenever we feel that we need additional support, which is a great improvement. Additionally, there is now a willingness to escalate concerns or questions that students may have about the syllabus.

There are many mechanisms that BAE Systems have in place for apprentices to get support with their apprenticeship. HR, management and the Employee Assistance Programme are all available and are incredibly useful. Particularly EAP, which I have used once and was really impressed with the level of care they provide.

The salary is very competitive and is sufficient for my living costs. However a continuing area of contention is that apprentices based in Southern sites, who do the same job as those in Northern sites, are paid significantly less. This is particularly frustrating when considering the variance in the cost of living, especially when it comes to saving for a mortgage - as property values are more expensive near Southern sites.

There are so many STEM and Stretch assignments that BAE Systems apprentices can get involved in which is excellent for improving personal skills as well as promoting the scheme. Additionally, the company sponsors employees to get involved in extra training such as learning a language and they supplement some of the cost through the PASS scheme.

Yes

The opportunities to develop as a professional individual are excellent. Having worked full time prior to joining BAE Systems, the level of support you receive from management to develop and grow as an individual is second to none. Also, having the opportunity to work in 5 different projects is great exposure to the world of project management, that others may not get exposed to.

Make a note of your experiences that have involved you using leadership and collaboration skills whilst working with others - this is imperative during the assessment centres. Also, study hard!