Project Management Higher Apprentice Review

Project Management Higher Apprentice: This includes swapping placements every 4 months. I am currently involved in the Risk Placement. This involves common interactions with Blackpool and The Flyde College. Daily interactions with early careers, relevant team members, PPOC etc. Responsibilities may be involved in your own area, running your own project, stakeholder communication, updating metrics etc.

I have been provided with a foundation degree in project management by Blackpool and the Flyde college. There also is a small chance that a Bachelors Degree may be on offer. Alongside this a higher apprenticeship is given as a qualification. There are many training opportunities in sections such as first aid, online training courses etc.

I very much enjoy my programme. I have had the opportunities to improve myself as a person, I have gone on several business trips (Liverpool, outward bound). I have also improved my confidence and ability to speak to people. There is a large and diverse support system that makes working here more enjoyable also.

I very much enjoy working for BAE Systems and I feel highly valued. There is internal recognition in the form of pay rises and awards and one on one development sessions. There is external recognition in the form of bronze awards and apprentice of the year prizes. I feel appreciated by the early careers team and I very much enjoy working here.

The course is reasonably well structured. There is a 3 year scheme which starts with an induction week. In this scheme you move around every 4 months to different placements. This is to give a varied and wide over view of the business and means you can tick off competencies. You are given a buddy and a mentor. The placements are well organised but sometimes feedback is NOT taken on by the discipline manager and poor placements are kept on.

A lot of support is received from the tutors. Additional help is provided by themselves as they are contactable by mobile/email when it is out of hours. Other providers are there to help and go through and check work on behalf of Blackpool and The Flyde College. Overall there is a good network of people.

There is incredible support from early careers with both personal and professional issues. The safe guarding and managers all take things incredibly well and provide the right support and understanding. There is a general guidance with problems and you feel supported by them, as if they are working with you not against you.

My salary just about meets my needs. If I was living alone and didn't have additional support then it wouldn't. It isn't enough to rent a property or to pay bills on top of having a car and buying necessities. However if you are house sharing/living with parents or a partner then it is enough. It doesn't give much flexibility for buying other items except than a few that aren't necessary.

Yes there are many company events and activities. There are lots of voluntary initiatives and the local community encourages that BAE get involved with them. It is in a good location of being right near the lake district and has many sports/leisure clubs. I have always had a job but BAE gives opportunities to enjoy yourself outside of work as well as inside.

Yes

BAE System has amazing opportunities for career development, business networking, personal development. It has a good support network, many out of work activities and a good social side as well as being very good professionally. I am proud to work for BAE Systems and I would recommend it to anyone else who is thinking of having an apprenticeship.

The application process is gruelling but worth it, stick at it because it'll pay off. Be attentive in the interviews. I didn't attend an assessment day so I do not know what the process is for that.