Commercial Asisstant Review

I provide commercial support to the commercial manager and my wider project team. This involves due diligence on supplier payment applications, cost and contract support , account reconciliations, commercial administrative support and other tasks. I also attend regular project meetings where I record minutes and actions for distribution within the team and provide health , safety and wellbeing moments.

My communication skills have greatly improved both verbally and within formal written communication between colleagues and clients . Additionally due to the need to regularly use Excel and other Microsoft applications, these have significantly increased. Due to working on multiple projects, completing university studies and partaking in internal training, my organisational and time management skills have developed.

I do really enjoy the apprenticeship programme, I think the distance learning from my university is very effective and gives me a more flexible approach to complete my studies which is beneficial considering the work load imposed within the job itself. I think the exposure the business offers is vast and gives me plenty of opportunities to learn from different people and project types.

I believe the programme is structured relatively well with advanced notice of training sessions and a vast variety of training types. I do believe that some of the training provided can be relatively irrelevant for different job roles and there could be more focus on programmes for different roles which would assist our day-to-day roles.

I receive ample support from my employer, having mentors who are aware of my learning needs and give me time to focus on my studies. Additionally, they are able to provide communication channels or introductions to other colleagues within the business who may be able to provide specific expertise or support which can greatly help.

I receive plenty of support from my training provider when studying towards my qualification, this comes in various ways such as personal one to one communications with lecturers, student forums designed to share common questions and answers with all students and even pre-made materials such as templates, tutorials or example answers.

I feel like my qualification helps me not only better perform my day-to-day activities and allow me to draw real life comparisons between my work and study, but also it gives me real insights into how the wider industry operates and the knowledge and professionalism expected of me. A lot of the skills acquired through my studies can be instantly transferred to my role as a QS.

Through my work there are ample opportunities to get involved with extra-curricular activities. These can include monthly work social events, volunteering and sport activities. In addition to this we are regularly made aware of any professional bodies that are hosting networking events, allowing us to network, listen and learn from like minded individuals.

Yes

I would definitely recommend the Mace apprenticeship scheme to a friend. I believe there is great balance of learning professional and organisational real world skills which are fundamental for someone starting a professional career, whilst also ensuring that there is a focus on development and educational learning which is greatly supported by Mace as a company, colleagues and the trainers.

For anybody looking to apply for the Mace apprenticeship scheme, I recommend you to be as honest as possible. There are goals and career aspirations as Mace offer such vast opportunities that there will almost always be a role suitable. I also advise for the applicant to not be afraid to show their true self as the environment Mace offers is safe and diverse, really appreciating and recognising the importance and wellbeing of their staff.