Project Controls Manager Review

I am currently in a reporting lead role consulting for a client within the pharmaceutical industry. I am responsible for creating and implementing the reporting process across a portfolio of projects on the clients manufacturing site. Key duties include creating and maintaining Power BI reports and liaising with project managers.

My apprenticeship has helped to develop my understanding of robotics and computer programming. I have learnt how to use software such as python, power BI, R studio, SQL server and postman among others. These skills have helped me to automate tasks on site and saved me time completing daily tasks.

The apprenticeship programme is enjoyable as I enjoy to learn new skills. It helps me save time in my day job by automating laborious tasks. It is also a good opportunity to meet other people from across my industry and gain insight into some of the challenges they face and problems they would like to solve.

My programme is structured into different learning categories, each comprising of different knowledge modules. These categories cover the core course requirements as well as additional material that serves to advance the basic course requirements. The programme is assessed consistently through exercise questions from learning sessions. You then need to complete a portfolio, project and interview to finish the course.

My manager offers me the time off needed to complete course related activity. My employer also gives me time of in lieu when I attend apprenticeship events over the weekend. The trickiest part of the course is gaining permission to download the relevant software onto company owned hardware. Here is where Mace could improve.

Projecting Success offer numerous support routes throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. These come in the form of weekly office hours with course tutors to ask any general questions. There are also specific sessions each week for students to join freely to ask specific questions related to elements of the course.

The qualification (and learnings made completing it) definitely help me when performing my role. It has helped me to streamline processes and improve existing reporting capability. These efficiencies have provided me and my colleagues more time to focus on value adding activity such as reviewing the quality of data given to us.

Mace have a wide array of extracurricular activities to become involved in. There are often networking events between groups of graduates and apprentices. There are also monthly coffee with the board sessions available for all employees to attend. Alongside this groups of employees often get together for volunteer days where they help in the community.

Yes

Mace is a good place to work. They have a range of opportunities available across a variety of sectors and locations. They often encourage movement between these sectors and locations to help support career growth. The people at Mace are among the most talented in the industry and there is plenty of opportunity to work with these individuals.

My advice if applying to Mace would be to go for it. Keep an open mind about what role and sector you apply to as once you demonstrate that you are capable the opportunity to move into different positions, sectors and locations are there and easy to review and access.