Project Management Apprentice Review

I work in the Technical site design team training as a project manager within planning and engineering which has a core focus on maintaining and upgrading our core technical sites to support broadband, telephone, tv and mobile networks around the UK. My team and role have full visibility of all the technical sites and become a base point of contact for internal and external staff.

Before joining, I was not the most organised individual nor was I entirely punctual. Since I started, I have consistently met the deadlines I have been set in an organised manner which I would consider a massive achievement for myself. I developed my team work capabilities as well as we have to work incredibly closely with our peers.

I no longer see work as just a job. I look forward to going to work most days as I know every day will be different and exciting. I also see great potential for apprentices within Virgin Media and how they are pushed to succeed as opposed to being utilised for basic admin tasks.

This is an area within both my company and the training provider could improve upon. Within in our department, we are the first cohort of Project Management apprentices so mistakes were bound to be made in the structure of our apprenticeship. However, every criticism we have provided to VM and BPP, they have completely taken on board and adapted where possible.

Continued support is given throughout our apprenticeship and even after graduating. From day one, I was given a "role" mentor who would work tirelessly with me to ensure I would learn my role within the team and I was given a "scheme" mentor who would support me in my development and learning of the apprenticeship.

Whenever I have flagged any issues between my role and the apprenticeship with the training provider, they have been more than happy to take criticism on board. This is to the point that they have restructured their program to suit my needs and include additional training sessions when asked for.

It has taught me to adapt my mind set to think like that of a project manager even though my role may not completely follow that of a project manager's. I have learnt to change my way of thinking which has made me more mindful of the importance of my role and thus increasing my productivity.

There are so many additional activities to get involved in. I have recently joined the future careers committee on the board as a social events representative for all those in VM. As well as this, we are given 5 days of volunteering a year to donate our time to a cause we care for.

Yes

I have become an advocate for apprenticeships at Virgin Media in particular and regularly do talks and events for prospective apprentices and college students into why they should join. It's an amazing pay packet as an apprentice for starters and I have never had such a great support system throughout any of my other careers. Whenever I have raised a concern, I have been taken seriously and completely listened to which shows that an employer cares.

Do your research. Learn about Virgin Media and the major projects we get involved in. Grow a passion to want to join and portray that in applications/interviews and that will set you apart from the rest. Constantly ask questions and show a genuine interest in the company and a willingness to learn.