Portfolio Support Administrator Review

My role is a combination of a Portfolio Administrator and a Project Manager. Within my project from inception to completion there are various tasks that require management, this includes project planning, scope management, risk management, resource management, schedule management, quality management. There is also overlap in my project responsibilities and portfolio administrator role in areas such as stakeholder management and risk management where there is a need to manage and report on various aspects of the portfolio and manage its dependencies.

I have improved my risk management and stakeholder management skills. Through managing the project in a portfolio I can understand the wider risk piece within the organisation and how governance has a part to play within a P3M organisation. There is also the improvement to my stakeholder management as I am able to present to different audiences, and communicate based on the stakeholder and their relation to the project/task.

I enjoy the programme very much, I have a lot of opportunities to grow and learn how P3M setting works. There is always opportunity to implement what I am learning in my degree within my job role which allows me to further understand and improve my knowledge, understanding and experience within projects and portfolios.

My programme is well organised, there are support structures in place. I feel like I know what I am doing at all times and I am able to provide feedback where I feel there is a lack of structure or where I feel like I need support for myself with adjusting to the structure of the programme.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. My line manager is very supportive and we are able to reach out to apprentice ambassadors on our course who serve as a friendly face and understand the difficulties within an apprenticeship. We are also given mentors within the business who help us consider different elements within the business and are also removed from what you do so they can remain objective in advice and feedback.

We receive a fair amount support from our training provider. We have regular communications about classes and assignments although I think more could be done in regards to additional materials when it comes to assignments in particular. There is often a delay in hearing back from queries from the admin team.

My qualification allows me to learn about my role in a more objective context. Where the business will have certain ways of doing things, this degree allows me to learn about other ways of going about project management and apply new methods and techniques that are better suited to my project.

I am able to partake in many events and ERGs within Pearson. These ERGs will often host events and talks around current affairs, personal development or social/religious/cultural events. This provides many opportunities to meet people within and outside of the business as well as enrich myself about other topics.

Yes

The company is very proactive in personal development, particularly apprenticeships. There is a lot of support available for apprentices as well as employees. There are good benefits in addition to your pay so that is a nice incentive. I feel like the company has gone through a lot of change recently and being able to experience this change in dynamic of the organisation.

I would say the best thing to do is see whether you align with the principles of the organisation. This is key to the role as we are constantly being reminded and driven to use our values within our behaviours and decision-making in our roles. There are also many parts to the business so researching the area you are applying for would make a very big difference.