Project Management Apprentice Review

The role changes on a year-to-year basis so that you can experience many areas of the business. On a daily basis you are tasked with managing projects down to managing people, money, schedules, risk etc. You are given real responsibility for the project so what you work on really matters.

I have learnt so many new skills over even the 9 months I have worked for the company. My communication and team working skills have improved massively as everything I do involves using these. I have also developed PM skills because of the responsibility I have been given, it has forced me to pick up these skills quickly to be useful to the team.

The programme is great. I love the variety in the work that we complete and the overall impact that the company has on the Military in the UK and the wider world. Seeing what we do gets you out of bed in the morning and being a part of that is amazing.

The programme recently went through a slight restructure due to the new requirements of the Level 6 qualification. This has meant the business changing training provider etc. which has meant that there was an element of uncertainty as to what we would be doing when with the training provider as the course has never been run in this way before but we are on track now.

The employer has a team of people working with the apprentices in the business. This support is above what we receive from our placement managers on a day-to-day basis. Even though this team is normally very busy, they make time to check up on you and make sure everything is going ok.

The training provider has a team of lecturers that are on hand when working towards our qualifications, they are always on the end of a phone or contactable via email and will support where required. The university also has teams of people available 24/7 to answer queries around assignments but also about personal issues if needed.

So far on the scheme, we have learnt lots about the way projects are best run, I can see this helping my role in the future as I move placement and can implement these things in the way that I work. We are scheduled to learn a lot more about these processes which will improve the way we work.

We are encouraged to attend any event that the business organises, but the most often are careers and STEM events. These are great as you are able to go into local schools and inspire the young people in STEM areas and also promote the business' apprenticeship schemes. The individual teams also hold team days and nights out to allow the teams to bond.

Yes

BAE Systems is a great company to work for, it runs such a variety of projects with such importance that getting involved is a real privilege. The fact that the business stretches the country and the world, there is opportunity here to work anywhere and get involved in anything. It really is a lifelong career if that's what you want.

Make sure you know what you are applying for, know the basic information about the business and what it does so that you have questions for employees, topics of conversation to talk about etc. Prepare for the application process, yes its long, but it's worth it. Take every step as it comes and just do your best and be honest.