Project Control Foundation Scheme Apprentice Review

I work within the Project Control function in Procurement. This involves responding to Baseline Change Requests, Drawing down/Releasing Contingency values, writing Purchase Authorities to allow buyers to have budget for their parts and monitoring and reporting the actuals against planned budget/timescales.

I have learnt various new skills within Project Management and feel that I know a lot more than I did before I joined the Company a year ago. New skills and knowledge include; knowing the triple constraints, developing my Excel skills (i.e. vlookups) and working various databases.

I thoroughly enjoy the programme, I believe I have been given a wonderful opportunity to earn while I learn. However, sometimes it can difficult with regards to work load and uni work.

I feel very valued at BAE particularly within my team as I have various responsibilities that are vital for important pieces of work within the team.

The programme is very well organised and structured; 5 one year placements and a day release to Uni during the term. A five day week is the norm for when Uni is finished during the holidays. A flexi time service is provided and this allows us to each manage our own time.

I am supported fully throughout and attend higher apprenticeship competency meetings to review my competencies or any issues I may have regarding the Uni work. I receive various emails and responses back from them quickly and they go out of their way to offer advice and find answers to our questions.

I attend 12 week reviews with my line manager and apprenticeship managers to discuss any issues and review my One File updates about how I am feeling about the scheme and how safe I feel within the company.

My salary goes above and beyond what I expected to be earning at 19 years old. The fact we are on a professional pay scale encourages us to work hard to meet the next grade.

There are various opportunities including Ambassador trips whereby employees attend schools and colleges to promote the company and engineering. This can either be through a STEM activity or promoting careers at BAE.

Yes

It is a brilliant company to work for that offers lots of opportunities to work both in the UK and abroad. There are various avenues of work from HR to Engineering to Project Control and there is something for everyone. All apprentices are valued by professional staff and are looked after extremely well.

The advice I would give is; take your time answering questions on the application form, proof read and correct as many time as possible, know your application form inside out, know what job you will be taking on if you do get it (i.e. know the process involved), learn some facts about the company to show you have gone that extra mile and be confident and enjoy the assessment day.