Project Assistant Review

Managing projects that focus on market research and competition in markets. Every day tasks include communicating with internal and external stakeholders, researching topics relating to cases, drafting findings and analysis, managing information requests and organising and chairing meetings.

Yes, I have learnt how to draft in the CMA's style, how to manage projects and the admin skills needed to manage a project team. I have developed my communication skills from working with customers to working with stakeholders both internal and external stakeholders that I am working with and trying to get information from.

The apprenticeship has helped somewhat in my work but I think most of the skills and enjoyment have come from the organisation and the work we do. Due to a change in provider, the programme was interrupted and there was a severe lack of communication in the first 8 months.

The apprenticeship and my work at the CMA are not very related and feel disjointed. The work the CMA does can be unpredictable so it would be difficult to match up tasks with topics of learning. There are also some topics in the apprenticeship that do not translate well to civil service work.

My managers have been very supportive and respectful of my need to take time away from working on projects to do apprenticeship work. They have readily given witness statements and read through work and assignments when I have asked. The communication between the apprenticeship team in the CMA and myself when the first training provider (Qube Learning) went into administration and also during the start up with the second provider (Realise Learning) was not very good and there was a 3 month gap in between.

My tutor is very responsive and answers all questions, providing materials where needed and requested. As I have only done a few months of my apprenticeship with Realise Learning, I do not know how the full experience would have been.

I feel like most of the skills I have learnt that impact my job performance have been learnt through the CMA and what I have learnt through the apprenticeship that my job has not taught me has been topics that are not very relevant to my work (for example, business finance).

There are many networks available to join (including an LGBTQ+ network, carers network, social mobility network, etc) as well as civil service wide networks and there are lots of activities available organisation wide (sports, movies, music, among others).

Yes

The culture and people that work at the CMA is very inclusive and supportive. The work we do is also very fulfilling and feels like I am genuinely making a difference in people's lives.

Make sure to understand how civil service applications work (there is lots of resources on civilservicejobs.org.uk) and look into UK Gov competition policies, like consumer rights, mergers, cartels and understand competition within markets.