Associate Project Manager Apprentice Review

Currently sat in Virgin Mobile, I work in the central planning team where I lead small projects and help my colleagues with some of their tasks. Due to the nature of this team, I interact with my entire team minimum once a day on meetings or email. I also interact with my line manager a lot too.

The main skill that has drastically improved since starting my apprenticeship is my excel skills, excel used to always be a challenge for me. But my team was able to supply me with training and one to one sessions when given work based on excel which helped me to understand the different functions of excel and increased my confidence when using it!

Working with Virgin Media has been a blast and it continues to do so, it's a safe environment to work where I can be challenged and pushed to exceed expectations. The opportunities at the company are amazing and there are extra curricular teams that you can join if you're passionate about certain topics like well-being, belonging and LGBTQ+. Virgin Media has exceeded my expectations and has given me the upmost support in my work and in myself.

At first, our apprenticeship provider had no structure to teaching us the content or instructing us clearly on how they wanted us to complete the work. It was really confusing to all of us. Although, Virgin Media supported us wholeheartedly, it was just the apprenticeship provider who let us down and left us in the dark at the start. In spite of this, the provider is starting to give us better guidance and support but not to the extent that I was hoping for.

I receive the upmost support from Virgin Media, this is from my line manager, team manager, colleagues, seniors and more. I feel so supported that I can also speak freely on my concerns or stresses with others. Even when spending a lot of my apprenticeship from home, I still feel supported from the company.

As previously mentioned, I've had quite a poor experience and lack of support with my provider which is such a shame as I've had a great experience with Virgin Media. My coach has been switched three times due to certain circumstances and it's only been since recently that I've had a secure and supportive coach.

What I have learned so far hasn't been the most applicable to the work I do, although I find the information useful. I can see how I could apply it to future roles or to project that I lead. But I feel as though that I haven't learnt enough to see a detrimental change to my performance since starting my apprenticeship.

Yes, there are so many activities and teams to join in Virgin Media. There are groups for LGBTQ+, well-being, sustainability, belonging and more! They also have a take 5 scheme where you can take five days of work off (not in a row) to work for a charity. I have done this twice, one time selling artwork and christmas cards to help towards ending homelessness and poverty. The second time was working with a charity that makes meals for those who need it e.g. the homeless. These are great experiences to have and a great way to get to know about local charities and get to know your colleagues more!

Yes

It's an amazing opportunity and a great company to work for. Especially with the recent merger the new changes are exciting and offer new opportunities.

Show your personality (be yourself!) Have a hard working ethic and be eager to learn Be self motivating, able to motivate yourself to work just as hard from home or in the office Ask questions!!!! - None are silly or stupid (shows you want to learn and understand)