Project Management Apprentice / Project Assistant Review

My roles and responsibilities can chop and change everyday. Thats the joy of being a PM, you have to be reactive to problems that may rise. I have had the opportunity to work based on site and in the office which has led me to do a variety of activities from meeting minutes all the way to snagging a project.

I came to mace without having experience of working in a corporate job and with no construction knowledge. I feel as though i have learnt so much so quickly in this job. Being based on site i now have an idea of the ways in which things are built and how long it takes which i can carry forward with me to other jobs. Even little things - I have learnt how to effectively communicate through emails and how to be demanding without being rude etc

I had some bumps to begin with not knowing whether actually i wanted to be at uni full time however now i am so glad i didn't Mace are really supportive in ensuring that you are enjoying the programme and move you around projects to ensure you get the most out of your job.

My programme is structured well apart from the consistency with in person training as this can be cancelled at short notice however i do still feel i get enough training as most of the stuff is a repeat of university. My universities structure is poor but that it out of Mace's control and for the new cohort they don't attend this uni anymore so Mace have been proactive about that.

There is lots and lots of support available within Mace, whether this is another colleague, your line manager, the support line that's available 24/7 or a member of SLT or the H&S manager or Emerging Talent team there is always someone you can talk to therefore I feel very supported

Mace make sure there is the opportunity to complete off the job training for uni. As mentioned previously they also try and get you on projects that are at different stages and are different projects so that you can learn a wide variety of skills that then put you at an advantage for uni

I have learnt certain things at uni that i can then recognise when at work, i also at uni have tested concrete which has furthered my understanding of the material. I also did a module on contracts which has aided my working as we use a range of contracts at Mace

Yes - lots! I sit in the Birmingham office and we have a monthly forum, monthly in-house social and a quarterly out-of-office social. Then each sector has social/networking events too. Then different networks, in Mace there are 6, such as EDIN hold monthly forums to. Then also in the Birmingham office there are some adhock events for grads and apprentices including team building and meeting with the board/slt members. We also just held a session to celebrate promotions!

Yes

I recommended this job to someone in the year below me at school and they have now joined the Mace team. Mace is a great company that is forever growing and changing as the world around it does and it opens your eyes to what is possible! They are a highly recognised company and for a good reason too!

To just be yourself - it doesn't just matter what grades you get! I didn't do too well in one of my A Levels and I still got the job. Mace want someone confident, especially for my job as a project manager so just relax and ensure you are talkative!