Project Management Degree Apprentice Review

My five year Apprenticeship consists of four placements which are all a year long, followed by an end point assessment. I attend University once a week, and make up the rest of my 5 day working week on placement within the business. I am involved in a number of different projects.

I am currently studying towards a Level 6 Project Management Degree at the University of Cumbria. I am developing my Project Management skills on a daily basis. These include: communication, collaboration, initiative, teamwork, Maths, English and IT. I am constantly learning new skills and improving my knowledge at work and at University.

I mostly enjoy my my programme, because it allows me to develop my skills whilst also getting paid a salary at the same time. I enjoy working alongside other apprentices on projects and during University sessions. I always feel supported by my placement team and also by the Early Careers team.

My programme is well structured because I will rotate around 4 different areas of the business on year-long placements. This will allow me to gain an insight into various different areas of the business, so that I can find out where I enjoy working the most. My University day accounts for 1 out of 5 of my working days.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. I have a personal review with my skills coach every 12 weeks, where we look at my progress and I have the opportunity to raise any concerns or issues. There is also a monthly engagement call for all apprentices, where key messages are delivered.

Due to the current circumstances, all of my University modules are delivered online. I find this method of learning to be challenging because the face-to-face interaction is restricted. Despite this challenge, I think that the modules are delivered effectively and there are group tasks which are set so I can collaborate with my fellow students.

I think that my qualification helps me to perform better in my role because it gives me a further understanding of my work. Often, what I am learning at University links back to my placement work so I can actively develop my skills in a work environment. This helps to consolidate my learning.

I am unaware of any social activities or sports teams that are hosted at my work. However, there are a number of different professional networking events which take place, such as engagement calls and area-specific communications. I think that there is an opportunity for my employer to make more extra-curricular activities available.

Yes

I would recommend my work to a friend because there are lots of benefits that the company provides. The annual holiday entitlement and flexible working hours means that I can enjoy a positive work-life balance. The share scheme is also a great incentive that the company offers to it's employees.

I would advise that an individual applying for this company should look carefully into each role and choose which vacancy they want to apply for. The company offers lots of different schemes and roles, so researching which one is best for you would be highly beneficial in order to choose the best fit for you.