Project Controls Higher Apprentice Review
at National Grid
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
Warwick
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
4.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.8/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
Every day is different. I attend meetings as well as holding my own meeting to discuss projects that I work on. I shadow planners on certain projects as well as contribute my opinion regularly. I am responsible for collating information from meetings and completing planning tasks such as updating the project's Gantt charts.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
So far I am really enjoying the programme. Everyone is really useful and friendly and I feel like I am learning and really taking on new information.
I have made great friends with the other apprentices, despite us working in all different teams and in different areas of the business.
Despite the majority of the work I've done been from home, I feel as if the team has really allowed me to settle in as we hold monthly team bonding calls.
I have made great friends with the other apprentices, despite us working in all different teams and in different areas of the business.
Despite the majority of the work I've done been from home, I feel as if the team has really allowed me to settle in as we hold monthly team bonding calls.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
yes. I have learnt to use a variety of software that I have never used before. For example, P6, tableau and excel.
National grid puts you through a lot of training to allow you to develop new skills. Some examples of these courses are First aid, effective meetings, forming a resilient mindset and improving presentation skills.
National grid puts you through a lot of training to allow you to develop new skills. Some examples of these courses are First aid, effective meetings, forming a resilient mindset and improving presentation skills.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Very well. We have specific business coordinators that check up on us regularly to ensure that we are engaged in the project. They are also in charge of ensuring that we are booked into the correct courses and are getting on with them.
We also have other coordinators that are in charge of monitoring our progress and our mental wellbeing, who pick up and are there to go to if ever we need help.
We also have other coordinators that are in charge of monitoring our progress and our mental wellbeing, who pick up and are there to go to if ever we need help.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive daily guidance from my buddy as well as help from my managers and teammates. Everyone is more than willing to help me out if ever I get stuck and take a minute out of their day to explain anything that I don't understand or need a little bit more help on.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
We have fortnightly meetings with our tutor where they will return work, give improvements and also talk through any topics that we may be struggling with or may need help on. I am enjoying the topics that we are learning. But cant wait till we go back into classroom lessons as I believe it may be more engaging as there currently is a lot of powerpoint work.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
We go on monthly courses which have taught us information about project management that I would never have thought of. For example, why choosing the correct structure for your project, programme and organisation is important and how it can affect the outcome of the project and how benefits can be potentially realised.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are many areas you can volunteer in. For example, I have written articles for the apprentice's newsletter on eating disorders. In the business' weekly updates there is also a section with a variety of possible volunteering opportunities that we can partake in. There are also many sports teams however these have been halted due to coronavirus restrictions. I am part of a NewNet organisation for people that have recently joined the organisation and this allows me to network and speak to people in different areas of the business and learn about what they do.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend National Grid to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I have really enjoyed my experience so far. Everyone is really friendly and it has such a large family environment. I feel as if I am learning on the job and am able to apply my knowledge. I also really like the fact how we are paid for working alongside learning. As this made the apprenticeship a more affordable and practical opportunity than university.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to National Grid?
Ask as many questions as possible. This will help demonstrate how engaged with the business you want to be but also show how eager you are to learn something new.
You will have to demonstrate many skills on the assessment day but the main thing is to remain calm and confident. But most importantly be yourself.
You will have to demonstrate many skills on the assessment day but the main thing is to remain calm and confident. But most importantly be yourself.
