General Management Apprentice Review

As part of the apprenticeship, we get the opportunity to move around and complete 6 month placements around the whole of the business. What you complete day-to-day depends on the placement that you are in, currently I am working within Surface Transport so that's dealing with developing the transport systems above the ground, but next I will complete an Operational Placement, where I will be working on the stations. We are given important roles within each placement that gives you high responsibility, and the ability to make a change within your department. As well as this, we also have our University days.

During my time as an apprentice for TfL, I have improved on my communication and people skills, I have been able to develop organizational and time management skills. I have been given the opportunity to attend training days, and interact with so many visits, talks and work to expand and build on new skills.

I absolutely love my programme, not only do I build the experience of working in such an amazing company that allows to me to move around in different placements and explore the breadth of TfL, I also get the opportunity to attend University and get a degree whilst I do so. This programme gives a person so many opportunities that would be hard to find else where.

I would say that my experience with the programme has been structured and organized very well, with regular 121 minutes with both placement managers and sponsors, always have work set up and ready for you to take on, events and opportunities sent around for you to take part on, and the transition from placements also is very good.

I would say that I receive a lot of support from my employer, in the sense of having two people who are there for me to openly talk to (placement manager and sponsor) as well as always encourage me to do well and give me opportunities that will give me the best outcome, but check that I am not too overloaded with work at the same time. As well as having support groups that are open and well known about for everyone, and always being told how to find help and support too.

I think from my training provider, I get a reasonable amount of support in the sense of I know where to find it and how to get there. At the same time, I think its harder for me myself to get support from them as I am only there 20% of the time, and its something that is a problem that is I think individual, rather than a problem for everyone.

My qualification enables me to perform better in my role as I am able to complete and undertake research projects about my role, enabling me to better understand what I am doing and knowing more about what I am doing. As well as this, it also helps us to learn how to better manage time, which we can apply to our role.

We are always emailed with opportunities to reach out and do something else other than sit behind our desks. I also think it is dependent on your team, I know I have experienced in my team a lot of social activities outside of work, as well as something called Coffee Roulette that is applied around the directorate giving us the chance to meet with people in other teams etc.

Yes

I would 100% recommend the General Management Apprenticeship and even working at TfL in general, this is because they are such an amazing company that offer and support you in so many opportunities. I am surrounding by people who are interested in helping me better myself and it is a lovely environment to be surrounding yourself in.

A tip that I would give is to try and work your hardest in every single stage of application, don't be shy, speak up for any ideas that you have don't let others speak for you, reach far and wide for any opportunities that are given to you, and it is okay to ask for help and ask questions.