Project Management Higher Apprentice Review

On a day to day basis, I conduct project and programme controls; working alongside Project and Programme Managers to keep a track of their project finances, forecasts, reporting, resourcing and progress. I attend university one day a week where I learn the skills I put into practice in the office; skills such as risk management, stakeholder management, resourcing, strategy management, scheduling, estimating etc.

A few skills I have learnt are stakeholder management, risk and issue management, scheduling, cost and budget control, reporting, bidding and scope management. I have also developed my people skills as PM is highly customer and stakeholder focused. Likewise, since being in a project controls placement, I have developed my financial and numerical skills

I really enjoy my programme. Everyone throughout the business is very understanding and always willing to help in placement. The training provider could be improved however, my intake is the last year to be placed with them so this is not an issue going forwards. The Early Careers team are very well structured and always willing to help with both work and university issues

My programme is very well structured. On my first day, we were given a break down of the course year by year and which modules we would study in each term. At the start of each new module, we are given an assessment booklet with term dates, a lesson breakdown and all submission and feedback dates.

My employer is very supportive and they are very heavily involved with how my trainer provider conducts the qualifications. They are very flexible and understanding with 'revision days' when we have an upcoming exam. We have 12-week reviews with our Early Careers Manager and Placement Manager, where we monitor our progress over the past 3 months

When working towards a qualification, we have in-class revision sessions over the last few leading up to an exam. We also receive feedback for every assignment we submit which aids our development. Our trainer provider makes sure we are fully equipped with the knowledge we will need for our exam

I feel that it makes me perform better in my role because learning it on a Tuesday and then putting it into practice on Wednesday enables me to develop the functional skills and ask questions that relate to real life situations, rather than learning it at university and not using it again until 3 years later in a graduate job

Yes there are many extra curricular activities such as 'Pay-Day drinks' where all 5 years of current and ex-apprentices all go out for drinks/night out. There are also conferences we can go to up and down the country. I am also a STEM ambassador so I get to go to schools and colleges around the local community and promote the apprenticeship scheme

Yes

Because you are very well looked after as an apprentice and you get 5x 1-year placement around the business which means you are exposed to a whole range of departments before you transition off the scheme. You progress is continuously monitored and other employees around the business are extremely helpful and always willing to help and let you learn from them

Go for it, it's a great experience and gives you a direction in life rather than heading off to university and still not knowing what job you want at the end of it. Also, you get paid a full salary to get a degree which is a huge bonus in itself