Project Management Apprentice Review

We do five placements over the course of the apprenticeship and each is a year long. Because of this our roles can vary dramatically and we can be doing anything from project controls and monthly reporting to engaging with the customer or other areas of the business working on continuous improvement exercises.

In terms of the academic side of my apprenticeship I've gained a lot of theoretical knowledge in terms of the methods used in Project Management and doing this alongside placements has allowed me to have a practical platform to apply those skills and techniques. I've also done a number of internal training courses in things such as Finance and Change Management.

I really enjoy the variety and diversity of experiences that my programme offers. It's really beneficial to be able to experience 5 different roles within the business before having to decide on an exit role as it provides and breadth of knowledge and allows you to understand where your strengths lie.

My programme is still largely in it's infancy to the extent that this is the first year that anyone has graduated from it. Because of this the structure and organisation of it is still naturally evolving with the continuous improvements that result from its growth. Despite the fact that processes are still maturing, I feel confident in the scheme and how it is run.

My employer is incredibly supported and we have a dedicated Early Careers manager for the employees on my scheme. This continuous touch point allows concerns to be addressed and all of the scheme members to feel connected and part of a community rather than isolated in their areas of the business.

Our training providers have a lot of knowledge on the subject and the modules are always well designed but the geographical separation between the college and our site is often at the detriment of the students as we do not have access to the same physical resources that the rest of their students do, although online subscriptions have been created for us.

the modules that we're taught are very diverse and some really help to inform the work we undertake on a daily basis (i.e. Project Management Methods & Principles), however the delivery of some modules is based solely on PowerPoint presentations and doesn't seek to address practical applications in the workplace.

Are company encourages employees to get involved in 'Stretch Assignments' outside of daily responsibilities and also has a massive focus on STEM extra curricular activities which is really beneficial to developing both employees and local schools in the wider community. Also, being based on the Naval Base there are wider events and activities always going on that we're encouraged to get involved in

Yes

The company is really good at investing in individuals in terms of training and development and is always seeking to reward employees who do well. They have a massive focus on education and will encourage individuals to pursue extra curricular activities and getting involved in wider local community events and activities.

The application process might seem quite long and complicated but there's a lot of support along the way. It's really important to demonstrate a knowledge of the company (what they do and what their values are) - this will really help you in both the application process and as an employee of the company.