Project Manager Review

I have managed different projects of a variety of sizes across my time on the apprenticeship. I have practiced project management and project controls, gaining a wider knowledge of what it takes to be a competent project manager. On a daily basis, I work with the project team to complete our goals and to track the progress of the project. I have to manage data, report in to senior staff, engage with stakeholders and self manage business as usual tasks.

I have learnt how to manage a variety of stakeholders, learning how to communicate and control measures to ensure progress in a project. I have learnt how to manage finances and risk in a project within a project controls placement. I have also managed contractors and sites of construction. I have had exposure to project management in different areas of the business from arranging events, to the upkeep of a dock in Portsmouth Naval base.

The programme has been by no means easy and has definitely presented me challenges that I would have never have come across out of the scheme. The programme is supporting throughout the time on the scheme and offers opportunities to apply skills that have been learnt at uni and finding opportunities to fill development gaps in order to be a better project manager by the end of the scheme.

The programme is structured in a way that apprentices rotate on a yearly basis. This year long placement provides enough time to settle and to learn the role in depth and to become confident and competent about the role before moving on to somewhere else where a gap in the skill set can be filled.

My employer has an entire early careers department where all the staff are very approachable and always have time for you no matter what the topic of conversation is. They are very supportive and try to steer apprentices so that they develop in the way that will benefit them in their future role when they exit in to the business.

The university is very supportive, providing student rep updates for the class, explaining everything in full and providing contacts for help if there are any problems, whether that be personal or something to do with the course. There is a lecturer for each module, a course leader and a tutor, all happy to talk to anyone about anything that they may be concerned about

The course is somewhat split into two elements. One element teaches direct project management and the core understanding of project management (by the book). The other side of the course is learning elements that relate into business and understanding of semantic topics that can all feed and support project management. All of these skills learnt at uni benefit the work that we do in the workplace as we can suggest ways of approaching things upon reflection on what we learnt.

There are always social activities arranged by apprentices for apprentices, supported by the business, particularly Christmas meals, encouraging everyone to attend and to build strong relationships. An annual naval base run is organised for charity which encourages all employers to join in. There is an abundance of conferences, networking events, 'stretch assignments' and STEM activities that are given much encouragement to participate in.

Yes

I really enjoy working for BAE Systems, they take care of their employees, offer opportunities and a good wage. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to work on half of the things that I have done without working for the business and them pushing me to work hard and to achieve.

Find out about what the business does, show some knowledge about what our goals are and what we do for the country. Be yourself and show willingness to work hard, you may find that if you don't quite have the grades, your experiences and your personality (showing drive) can make up for that.