Senior Advisor Review

I have recently moved roles. I started the apprenticeship as a team leader, leading a team of engineers in asset management and making tactical decisions. Through the apprenticeship I have been successful in moving to a Senior Advisor post, with no people management but technical subject leadership and influencing higher level policy and strategic decision making.

I have developed my self awareness which is helping me to both identify my existing skill sets and where I have some development gaps that I wish to work on through the programme or in my own development off programme. I have also worked further on tie management techniques and understanding and applying various coaching and mentoring styles and leadership styles.

I enjoy the workshops generally although some feel a little rushed in the working group time. I am not enjoying some of the assignments as they seem overworked in terms of how much they expect you to explain and I do not find that it is the best way for me to learn. Furthermore, the inconsistencies between mentors mean some have more information at the start for evidence gathering and others needed to try to get evidence in a short window.

The admin team at raise the bar are great and have always made changes to course dates and availability if needed. There is a lot of information available on the portal so I am never without organised sources to start my research with, The modules are clearly structured on the raise the bar portal so you know which is next, however the deadlines for work assignments are not well structured and rely on individual mentor/mentee conversations. Plus, the workshop trainers and mentors do not communicate well about content.

I have changed line manager several times during the course so I cannot comment on individual manager support as this has been inconsistent, but I will say that generally the fact that I am on an apprenticeship is well respected and I am encouraged to take the time I need as a result.

This has been okay, but somewhat changeable. Standards and support between mentors have made it a little difficult to always know where the targets are. My meetings with my new mentor are generally very short and seem quite rushed as I know they are a little short staffed at the moment.

I think it has helped me to perform better and gain more self confidence to actually put myself out there and apply for a higher grade role, so in that sense it has been very successful. I am sometimes unsure about how much of the content is sinking in for me to take forward in day to day working life as it still feels a little academic.

This varies and depends on office and team location. My new team is quite remote and it is hard to meet up in person, but my old team had more face to face social events. We are encouraged to maintain professional qualifications and memberships and to get involved in further networking events in that way.

Yes

I have enjoyed my 5 years working here and have appreciated the work life balance, benefits and flexible working environment. It will never be the most high paying job out there and I could do better financially if I were employed at a private organisation, but the EA want to do good for the planet and I appreciate that ethos.

Research the very wide range of areas the Environment Agency works in and all the different support teams there are out there that work to make all these different environmentally focussed works happen. Make sure you understand what competency based interviews are and that we cannot negotiate on pay, but can negotiate on flexible working benefits.