Project Planner Apprentice Review

Job Title: Project Planner Apprentice. I work with teams on major upgrade and enhancement projects within TfL. A typical day involves meeting with the project management and engineering teams to review progress so far and plan for the future. Often we will visit work sites to familiarise ourselves with the project and monitor progress of work. I will also review plans provided by contractors to ensure they are compliant with TfL's requirements.

The scheme includes a formal qualification in business management. There are also many other formal internal training opportunities, for example courses in presentation skills, contract management, and how to work on a station in an emergency. During my day-to-day work I have learned a vast amount about the functioning of TfL and the skills needed to plan projects.

I have found the programme to be enormously enjoyable. The work offers a satisfying challenge and I have always been well supported by the people I work with. Everyone at TfL has been extremely helpful and friendly. There is also a strong social side to the apprenticeship scheme with many after-work meetups.

I have felt highly appreciated by my manager and the other people I have worked with on projects at TfL. I have been deeply involved with projects and have made a significant contribution to them, which has been recognised within the teams I have worked with. I was nominated by my team for a Young Rail Professionals "Apprentice of the Year" award.

The programme is well structured throughout. There is a comprehensive induction process to introduce all new apprentices to TfL and their role and responsibilities within it. Placements are organised by the apprenticeship management team. Studying for our formal qualification is through Westminster Kingsway college and is very well organised to ensure we meet all the scheme's requirements. There is a buddy system where all new apprentices are paired with an existing apprentice who helps guide them through working at TfL. We have regular meetings with our placement managers, apprenticeship managers, and college assessors to monitor our progress and offer any support required.

Our training provider, Westminster Kingsway College, offers very effective support. We have regular college workshops and receive plenty of help and guidance on completing our work. Our assessor has been extremely helpful and encouraging throughout and is always willing to assist us with any problems we have.

The apprenticeship scheme managers have always been very helpful and offered lots of support both proactively and whenever I have approached them. My placement manager has also been extremely supportive and provided very valuable guidance to me. I have an "apprenticeship buddy" who has also given me lots of useful help and assistance.

All TfL apprenticeships pay the London Living Wage of £9.75 per hour. All TfL employees also receive a staff travel pass which gives free travel on all London Underground, London Overground, Bus, DLR, and Tram services operated by TfL, as well as some National Rail services. There are also season ticket loans available for commuting on National Rail which give a 75% discount on the normal price. We are provided for free with all equipment we need such as safety boots etc.

There are regular social activities organised by the different departments we go on placement to, and also organised by the apprentices on the scheme. There are opportunities to become involved in activities such as the Railway Challenge run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. TfL employees can also volunteer to help with major events through the Travel Ambassador programme.

Yes

Transport for London offers an excellent apprenticeship scheme. We learn valuable professional skills and are given comprehensive training, with plenty of support throughout. Apprentices are valued for the vital contributions they make and are accordingly well paid. Our skills are in high demand and lead to high paying jobs after completion of the scheme.

Carefully look at the details of all the different apprenticeships offered by TfL to decide which one you want to apply for. Get your application in early as sometimes the schemes get so many applicants they close before the deadline. Make sure you can find your GCSE and A level certificates before you start the application process. Practice for the online cognitive, literacy and numeracy tests - there are lots of practice tests available on the web. Research the projects TfL is currently working on before your interview - the more you know about them the better. Get in touch with the recruitment team if you have any questions, but be patient, as the process can sometimes move slowly. [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions]