Standards Manager Review

As a standards manager I am responsible for supporting the business with ensuring that appropriate standards are set and maintained across a wide range of vocational qualifications including BTEC's, EPA's and T Levels. This involves setting grade boundaries for the externally set exams in the qualification suites I am responsible for and supporting with quality assurance activities related to the qualifications, working alongside a range of teams across the business.

During my apprenticeship, I had the opportunity to complete modules that explored the theory and principles behind business whilst also completing a range of work related projects that allowed me to apply new knowledge to the business I work for. During the work related projects I had the opportunity to work collaboratively with different teams across the business to produce projects. This had a positive impact on the business as informed decisions could be made and also on my confidence in my ability to make a meaningful contribution on a wider scale than I thought possible.

There were some aspects of the programme that I enjoyed including meeting apprentices from other companies and the work based projects that I found invaluable in my personal and professional development. There were some modules on the programme that I did not find relevant to my role or business (which I struggled to engage with, especially as we were studying remotely during the pandemic) and the demands of working full time in a demanding job were a challenge to manage at times (especially with the additional challenges posed by the pandemic on my day to day job).

The degree apprenticeship programme involved day release on a Friday that was dedicated to attending lectures and seminars - this made it easier to plan the workload of my day to day job and the work related to the apprenticeship. When I approached the EPA component of my apprenticeship, my line manager and employer were flexible on my day release and I was able to alter this to meet my needs too, with regular support from my EPA mentor too.

My employer were supportive of me completing the apprenticeship and ringfenced my 20% off the job time with the day release on Friday's. My line manager also attended quarterly reviews with the apprenticeship team and my mentor from the provider too. I was proactively encouraged to complete projects that interested me and would benefit the department that I worked in too. Whilst I was supposed to be allocated a mentor from my employer, it was challenging to find a match and I had to proactively find my own mentor from within the organisation when there were staffing changes. I didn't find this relationship particularly beneficial and relied on my mentor from my provider for support and guidance.

The training provider delivered the lectures and seminars on a Friday and I also had a dedicated mentor that I met on a quarterly basis. As I was approaching the end of my degree programme, these meetings increased in frequency and my mentor also provided extensive support in preparing for my EPA. I did raise concerns around the workload of the apprenticeship programme, working full time and the additional challenges associated with studying/working during the pandemic - these were addressed at times but at other times I felt were dismissed which made it feel that there was a lack of support to find solutions to genuine issues encountered by apprentices.

Whilst there are lots of aspects of the business management degree that do not directly relate to my role, I do feel that I have a better overall understanding of business and I can better understand some of the wider concepts that determine how the global company that I work for operates. The work based project modules have undoubtedly given me more confidence and I have been able to showcase my work to a wider audience within the business, consequently raising my profile (particularly as I presented work completed for my apprenticeship at an international conference).

There were some extra curricular activities that were promoted at the training provider but as an apprentice who only had day release to attend lectures and seminars on Fridays, I was unable to engage or get involved with these activities. During the pandemic, the training provider did offer some online activities (e.g. yoga classes) too. Within my day to day job there are no extra curricular activities to get involved with.

Yes

There are a number of different opportunities when working in a global company to develop a range of transferable skills. In the 5 years that I have worked in the business to have worked in 3 different roles in 2 different divisions, securing my current role through a 'Wave' opportunity where I was seconded to the team for 6 months before being appointed permanently. Opportunities are regularly advertised and colleagues are encouraged to complete apprenticeships as part of their development.

I found engaging with the recruitment manager really useful in preparation for my onboarding process and I would also use LinkedIn when preparing for interview to find out what has been happening in the business, as colleagues from various teams post updates on there. Upon joining Pearson, I would recommend that as part of your induction that you proactively seek out meetings with representatives from other teams to understand what they do and how you may be working with them.