Apprentice Project Manager Review

I am an Apprentice Project Manager at TfL so my role involves managing projects from start to finish, depending on what placement I have been on and what the projects involve. Therefore, I could be running team meetings, checking we are inline with time, dates and quality.

Yes completely! My confidence has massively increased since working at TfL as I am treated fairly, given responsibility so I can take responsibility and have had the chance to go on many training opportunities. For example, I have gone on training for presentation, influencing, negotiating and networking skills.

I really enjoy my programme, I have had the chance to meet people you would never have necessarily worked with by getting involved with extra - curricular activities, I am consistently offered support from both QA and TfL and I get to be myself but still ask questions and develop consistently. I would thoroughly recommend our apprenticeships to anyone internally or externally to not only enhance your skillset, but to give yourself a range of opportunities to take your career in your own hands and be motivated and determined.

I think my programme is really well structured, every 6 months I rotate giving me a chance to work on projects I want to work on but also projects that give me the opportunity to find out more about TfL and fit in line with the responsibilities of an Assistant Project Manager. I'm coming up to my last year as an Apprentice and since starting I have massively improved not only my knowledge of our organisation but also as a professional. The one day a week is also managed really well and is up to you to determine what day that is with your line manager.

A lot! I never feel alone in my day to day work and if anything I feel really supported and valued. Any issues are quickly resolved and I always feel positive when at work. I also Chaired our internal Graduate and Apprentice Committee and felt that I was allowed to do this and put myself out there with complete support and guidance. My Sponsor is also great at seeing where I can develop and encouraging me.

As I have dyscalculia I was worried that this would potentially be an issue when I had to take my Agile and APMP exams. I was very wrong and from the get go I was encouraged to get the extra help they could provide me. For example, they had a learning log that I could write in about what I am working on, an assessment to see where I might need extra support on and I got extra time and assistance whenever I required it. From this I felt much more confident and did well in both situations.

I think the APMP/ Agile methodologies, though different, gives you the chance to understand the theory of Project Management and the different purposes of each. For example, in practice having learnt about the different types of risk helps you to blend into the team more and not seem as though you are constantly learning new things.

As mentioned before, within 6 months of starting as an apprentice I joined the Graduate and Apprentice Committee (GAC) as Chair. I got the chance to perform and attend competency based interviews, manage a team of 16 people and present monthly at the Leadership Group for Grads and Apprentices, a chance to showcase your skills to a range of senior leaders at TfL.

Yes

It has been an incredible experience full of nothing but positivity and though challenging at times I have never felt alone or excluded as an individual or apprentice. TfL is a great employer and you get treated like any other employee. Everyday really is a new day and it's full of development so you will be ready for the next steps into your career.

To be yourself, understand the Mayor's Transport Strategy and think of ways you can implement the ideas and the benefits of what we do and why. Also using the SMART methods for answering your interview questions and thinking of competencies and how you can fit into the TfL culture and what we believe in.