Design Mananger Review

. I do have typical daily functions and I will spend a lot of time replying to emails and in meetings. I make decisions regarding the design and ensure my design team have what they need to complete the design. I review drawings and specifications to ensure that they are inline with the contract and legislation. And I am a point of contact for the site team if they have any coordination issues on site. I work with both bid teams and delivery teams. A Bid team are working on projects we want to win for the company and I typically look for ways to make the building and materials more efficient – both in terms of money and sustainability. The Delivery team are the team who will construct the project.

I have developed my skills in managing and leading people. I also have a better appreciation for finance and organisational strategy. I am a line manager so the skills learnt on the course has helped me deal with the mentoring/coaching aspect of my role and how to get the best out of people.

I found the content of the programme interesting and useful. I struggled to fit the sessions and coursework into my daily tasks. Thank goodness for home working as if i needed to travel for the sessions i would of had to find even more time for the course which my workload did not allow. I did complete the programme on site but this took alot of effort and commitment.

I found the structure of the programme good. Each month had a new subject and focus for the assignments and the way it was presented was easy to understand and interactive allowing discussion to ensure a clear understanding of the subject before you were able to complete the assignments independantly

I was meant to spend 20% of my working week on my apprenticeship (1 day), however the workload given to me meant it was a struggle to find the time to fit the sessions and assignments in, and i frequently had to complete work in my free time. I was typical to squeeze in 1 day a month of my working week to spend on my apprenticeship.

Due to my other workload commitments my training provider was very supportive and understanding. No deadlines were given but we worked together and they encouraged me to ensure i stayed on track the best i could. My training provider was especially supportive when it came to the end of the apprenticeship and my end point assessments, taking me through the whole process step by step to ensure i knew what to expect

There are many aspects where the qualification has had an impact on my day to day role. When working as the leader of a project team it has taught me how to use emotional intelligence to get the best out of any situation. It has given me a framework for project management tools and how to deal with problems and making decisions.

There are many activities to get involved in through work. I have a particular interest in social value and like to give back to the communities i am working in. I am an ambassador for women working in construction and i get many opportunities through work to speak to schools and give presentations about what its like in the construction industry.

Yes

If you want to complete an apprenticeship the Realise trainers are knowledgeable and supportive and can guide you through the whole process. Given the workload issues i had to deal with i'm not sure i would of been able to achieve what i did without the support of my trainer.

Make sure you are fully committed as it will require dedication and commitment. Ensure that your employer is supportive and is willing to reduce your workload to allow you to complete the apprenticeship without additional stress or completing work in your own time. Bond with the others on your course as they will provide additional support when working on assignments.