Project Management Higher Apprentice Review

As a project management apprentice, I am required to provide support to the project team. My project is the integration of the finance systems of MBNA onto LBG systems. My day to day activities include stakeholder management, preparing meetings and packs, recording actions, risks, issues, dependencies and assumptions and reporting back to the project on the status of my work package. I work with a range of stakeholders each day and have regular updates with my task manager, line manager and project manager.

I am working towards my APMQ exam in November and have regular learning sessions with the other apprentices in my location to cover the material that will be used in the exam. I am constantly developing project manager skills through my day to day on the job learning, such as stakeholder management and planning. I have developed my knowledge of common Microsoft office applications, such as power point and excel, as well as gaining experience with new programmes, such as Microsoft project.

My programme has offered me lots of new opportunities within projects and I feel as though I am developing a myriad of skills that will set me up for a successful career. I am happy to be a part of a large company that values its employees and has a large focus on personal development and progression. The apprenticeship programme feels unorganised in places. This can be quite frustrating, as all apprentices in my cohort seem to be receiving different information. More clarification is needed on deadlines and expectations throughout the apprentice journey.

I have been incredibly please with how LBG have treated me since I started at the company. I have regular meetings with my line manager to ensure that I am progressing, and have also been fortunate enough to find a mentor who is providing me with coaching to develop the project management skills I will need to progress to the next pay grade. The flex benefits are excellent and the agile working options mean that I can fit my job around my life and enjoy a great work-life balance. I regularly receive feedback from the people that I work with, which will contribute to year end rating.

The apprenticeship scheme is an excellent way to start a career in LBG and ensures that you develop the right skills to become a project manager. My line manager and task manager both respect that I have a number of competencies that I need to develop and are happy to allow me to spend 20% of my working week developing and logging my learning. The apprenticeship team, however, have proved more difficult to work with. There are inconsistencies in what the apprentices are told, and often I am told that information will be passed onto me and do not receive it. There has also been very little guidance offered on how to prepare evidence for the end of year apprenticeship assessment.

Part of the scheme involves attending regular workshops in the Halifax location, as well as occasional 121 sessions with the business coach. The workshops are informative and enjoyable. The 121 sessions appear to be inconsistent across the apprentices in both duration and content covered. Communication between these sessions is very little and it can be hard to get answers to any questions.

I receive a lot of support from my line manager, who is happy to provide advice and guidance on any issues that I have. I also have a task manager, who monitors my day to day work within my project, and provides feedback on my work and highlights areas for my development. I have a mentor, who works in a different area of the bank to me and has gone through the graduate scheme, who I happy to offer career progression advice, such as going through interview questions with me and preparing mock interviews. The general attitude towards me as an apprentice is that everyone is really enthusiastic to help me develop my skills and expose me to a wide variety of tasks.

My cohort of apprentices were given a salary band one below that of previous apprentices, however the work we carry out is expected to be the same. Whilst this is an apprenticeship and the salary is above minimum wage, it is a higher apprentice and appeals to people such as myself who have mortgages and bills to pay, which can be a struggle on this wage, particularly considering the amount of work that is required. A grade C salary seems much more appropriate, as has been the norm in previous years.

LBG have a large focus on community, and since joining the group I have been involved in a charity day and had opportunities to be involved in other charity activities. There are also opportunities to attend company events and the Hive site can be used for social and business networks. There is a gym on site and LBG encourage a good work-life balance. It would be good to see more social opportunities that stem from work.

Yes

LBG have great opportunities for career progression, excellent flex benefits and agile working patterns. The work is varied and interesting and there are so many roles available that there is likely to be something for everyone.

LBG have a large focus around intrapersonal skills, rather than specific experience, therefore you should focus on your past situations that show off these behaviours (such as leadership, teamwork, etc.). The interviews and assessment centres can be quite daunting, but LBG provide great feedback and this can be used as experience going forward.