Chartered Management Degree Apprentice Review

I complete 4 x 1 year rotations in different roles and departments in the BT Business unit. I manage projects, produce content, lead teams, and produce reports to build and develop solutions.

Project Management, Data Analytics, Design Consultancy, User Experience Design, Sales Strategy, Solution Thinking, Organisation, Communication, Time Management, Stakeholder Management, Presenting to Large Groups, Digital Technology, Inclusive Practice

I really enjoy my programme. Every day I am challenged to develop and stretch my skills, knowledge, and behaviours, as part of a high-challenge/high-support performance culture. I feel empowered to do my best and challenge things that I don't agree with in pursuit of the best outcomes.

My programme is well-organised most of the time. The 4 x 1 year rotations don't align very well to the 3 x 1.5 years of learning, meaning that I plan my dissertation in my third role but start it in my fourth - not ideal for a research project.

I receive a lot of support from my employer for my mental health/neurodiversity needs, professional development, and extracurricular enrichment activities. However, in all of these areas you have to be the one to initiate the request for support, which can be difficult when you're overwhelmed.

I receive ample support from my training provider in the form of a dedicated skills coach with regular quarterly reviews and ad-hoc support whenever I need it. I also have access to their best-in-class Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE) who provide bespoke academic support on my assignments. The quality of the lectures provided by the training provider leaves much to be desired however - lessons often consist of being left in virtual breakout rooms to "analyse" an article with peers.

My qualification directly gives me the tools, skills, and thinking in order to do my job well. I can access a wealth of resources on-demand to help me tackle new parts of my job, which are provided by the CMI as part of my apprenticeship.

There are ample extracurriculars at BT. I lead the Business Early Careers IED team, I am a comms manager for the Gender Equality Network, and I regularly support young people as an apprenticeship ambassador at events that BT sponsors/attends.

Yes

BT hands you, on a plate, the opportunity to develop personally and professionally to become a well-rounded practitioner - specialist or generalist. You are immersed in an environment of professionals who are eager to support you, and there are ample resources for you to pursue independently too.

When applying to BT, do your research. Make a case study on one thing that we've done that stands out to you, and link that to what you'd like to get out of working at BT. Research the scheme you're applying for and use the vocabulary from the apprenticeship standards in your application.