General Management Apprentice Review

As a TfL General Management apprentice, apprentices are required to complete placements across different business areas which means that the day-day role can vary. Examples of work I've completed have been chairing/minuting working groups, project management tasks as well as engagement with local stakeholders including the community and local boroughs.

I have been able to develop a wide array of new skills, from project management to stakeholder management, creating interactive presentations and learning how to present to small-large audiences, computer software. I've also had opportunities to attend different training courses, from suicide prevention, first aid at work to more business related courses such as Finance and Excel.

I really enjoy the variety of different work I get exposure to by doing placements, however the only very slight drawback of this is that it can take a little while to get settled in new placements. There is a great community of Graduates and Apprentices so lots of social activities which makes for a nice balance.

The scheme is very well structured for the first two years, ensuring that you get exposure to a number of different business areas and that the placements are well tailored to your skillset as you begin your apprenticeship. For the two years following, you have freedom to pick your own placements which are suited to your own career aspirations but with support from your line manager to ensure that they are suitable.

They are very supportive of people with physical/mental illnesses and have allowed me to feel supported through a number of situations. Senior leaders from across the business also take an active interest in our roles as apprentices and the value that we bring to the business, which makes the role feel rewarding.

TfL are a very supportive apprenticeship employer, we are given adequate amount of time to focus on our studies and development and teams from across the business understand how your time must be spent and how at certain times your focus is required more heavily on your studies. They also understand the value in developing your skills, allowing you to attend a range of training courses.

Studying for a business management degree means that I have been able to develop an array of transferable skills, from formal report writing to planning and organisation. However, some of the more theory based learnings are less applicable to my day-day role and it can be tricky to apply them to my tasks.

There's a great range of social activities to get involved in, from quiz nights to sports team, choirs and an array of ' Staff Network Groups' including ones for parents and careers, mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ communities. Across the business there are also often coffee mornings focused on improving wellbeing and encouraging good working relationships.

Yes

There are so many different departments that you could sometime forget you're working for a transport organisation! This means there's something for everyone and with lots of opportunities to work on high profile projects with a good work life balance ( including flexible wfh) and a good salary, its very appealing

Ensure that you've done your research on TfL's upcoming projects and key priorities, theres a wealth of information available on the website too when it comes to applying to roles. Be yourself and ensure you've read any instructions clearly, they're not trying to catch you out but ensure you understand what they're assessing you on.