Higher Apprentice Project Manager Review

Over the course of the 3 years, we move around the business in 4 month placements. This gives higher apprentices the opportunity to learn a variety of different skills and knowledge on many different areas of the business. Our daily tasks are given to us by placement managers, who create objectives for us to complete in the 4 month window.

During my first placement, I was given the opportunity to create a presentation to educate stakeholders in the business who owned a budget. I then helped deliver the presentation with 2 of my placement colleagues on 4 separate occasions. As I hadn't given many presentations before, this boosted my confidence and helped me to develop my public speaking skills, which I have used for other presentations in work and for assignments at university. I have also learnt how to act in a professional manner, trailering the way I speak to different stakeholders depending on the type of meeting or the seniority of the stakeholder.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a higher apprentice at BAE Systems. I have carried out many different tasks gaining exposure to senior stakeholders, such as the Deputy Director on one of our programmes. I have met a wide variety of people in different functions and have made relationships with some of them- including people can rely on for help in future placements.

The Project Management Higher Apprenticeship scheme at BAE Systems is very structured. All apprentices do 4 month placement around the business for 3 years, ensuring that the apprentice gets everything out of the placement that they possibly can before moving on. We are told 3 weeks in advance where our next placement is and who our placement manager is. It is then our responsibility to organise a meeting to discuss the placement with our new placement manager and set objectives. Shortly after we have moved placements, we have an end of placement review with our previous placement manager to ensure that all the competencies originally agreed have been achieved. Once this is agreed, the objectives form is signed to fully complete the placement.

I have many points of contact in the business if I need any support, help or advice. Firstly, I have my line manager in the Early Careers department. If I am struggling to cope with anything or need to speak to someone about home issues I can contact him. Also in the Early Careers department I have my skills coach. I can speak to her about any matters as I see her quite often and at my 12 weekly reviews. I speak to her more often and especially if my line manager is busy (he has all higher apprentices in his hierarchy). In the function, I can speak to my discipline manager about any issues I am having in placement- if the placement isn't going well or if my placement manager is not behaving in an appropriate manner. For any advice, I can speak to my mentor or buddy. A mentor is someone who has worked in the business for some years and can offer business advice to apprentices who ask for support- this is due to the fact that this will be a first job for many apprentices. A buddy is someone on a higher apprenticeship scheme in a higher year that can offer advice in the early stages of the apprenticeship, for example: what to wear to work, what college is like and any help on assignments that the previous years have learnt about.

Our university degree provider is University of Cumbria. They come down to Barrow to teach us every Thursday about Project Management. They are very helpful, explaining assignments to us if we are struggling to understand. If we email our tutors with any questions they are responding within a few days to give us more clarity. When assignments have been marked, thorough feedback is given to ensure we can improve on our next assignment and to understand why the mark we received was awarded.

Our foundation degree helps us perform better at work as the knowledge that we are learning at college directly corresponds to the work we have learnt at college. We can then use this knowledge to perform better in work. On the other hand, if there is a placement in an area in which we haven't studied, we can use the knowledge we have learnt in placement to understand how it is carried out in a general project.

There are many things to get involved in at work. As an addition to our daily jobs, we get the chance to be involved in stretch assignments- mini projects that get the community involved. My favourite stretch assignment was Lego Robotics- going into primary schools to discuss how to build robots our of Lego and how to programme them to move in a particular way, depending on what the task brief was. There are also sports teams that are formed in the business. Currently there is a ladies rounder's team that is for all apprentices of any experience. We also organise a trainee night out, usually one at Christmas and one at the end of summer. This is the chance for all higher apprentices to go out together and meet people from different years and functions. From a project management perspective, we have an APM Branch in the Furness area. This means we can attend any events in the local area when they are scheduled and if there is any spaces left.

Yes

At BAE Systems, there is a wide range of apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships for anyone to apply for. All apprenticeships give everyone a qualification in their respected fields, whether this is a HNC or a degree. This job provides career progression throughout your career and is a secure job with our contracts lasting another 50 years. The networking that can be achieved is outstanding and gives people the opportunity to work on a very complex product.

For anyone applying to BAE I would suggest that for the initial application process, that it is written on Microsoft Word to ensure that spelling and grammar mistakes can be checked. To make sure the content makes sense, I would get a few people to read the application form. When it comes to the aptitude test, try some online to get the feel for what the aptitude test is asking. On the day of the assessment centre, ensure that you are dressed smartly and that your body language/facial expressions shows you are interested and keen to work for the business. Do some pre-reading on the company to understand their values, if there have any other business sectors and what the specific business unit builds. This will all be helpful for the presentation you have to do.