Project Management Degree Appentice Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Engineering, Business Operations
Barrow-in-Furness
Review Submitted: April 2023
Overall Rating
4.5 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I work in an integrated projects and planning team on this placement. I attend multiple meetings and communicate and engage with multiple different stakeholders in order to attain the information necessary to update weekly reporting packs to ensure the project is running as smoothly as possible in my area. It requires a lot of spreadsheet work.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy my programme thoroughly due to the high level of support and communication we receive from our managers, cohort, and the early careers function. Additionally, my role is highly interesting due to the nature of the work and I have learnt so much about businesses in a short period of time.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have developed multiple skills; such as communication. Communication is a key part of my role and has developed massively since working here. I've also developed my confidence hugely and created a more professional representation for myself. I've also learnt multiple new skills; such as IT skills; like the use of excel and specific programmes to my role.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
My programme is very well structured; we have consistent well-being reviews in place to ensure our mental health is well. Additionally, we have 12 weekly reviews to ensure we are on track with our knowledge, skills and behaviours, and have to regularly update our off-the-job trackers to ensure we do the correct amount of hours. Furthermore, a strict structure of the 5 years was displayed to us at the start of the apprenticeship and explained to us how we will go about this.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
We receive large amounts of support as we have a large team of people we can reach out to. We have regular well-being reviews to ensure our mental health is well, as well as additional reviews to ensure we are coping with the workload. Furthermore, the wide network of people we can contact if we need support makes me feel comfortable within the business.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Our tutors are always willing to have a one on one with us incase we don't understand. It;s slightly harder to get in touch with our training provider as we only go onsite to uni once a fortnight, however they often provide examples and extra material from the module in order to help us.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I think the qualification correlates highly to my role. Some modules more than others, e.g Stakeholder engagement relates more than personal and professional development in my opinion. The modules also prepare us for future roles, e.g I don't use risk in my placement, however we have learnt this at uni, so in future risk placements, I will already have prior knowledge.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Within my placement, multiple social events are planned and sent out via email. Additionally, sports teams, like rounders have been put together by employees themselves. However, there is no actual social activities arranged by BAE Systems themselves at the Barrow site. Furthermore, my cohort plans multiple social events due to creating a close knit network at uni and other work events.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
You are highly supported in the role, therefore you rarely feel like you have been thrown in the deepend, or if you have, there is a large support network to reach out to. Additionally, the share and pension scheme is highly rewarding, as well as the many opportunities there are to advance in your role, or make an internal transfer to a more suited role.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Depending on your role, be prepared to work from home for some of the week, or even all of it. Furthermore, ensure you are aware that the work is more complex due to the nature of the project; you need knowledge on the product as well as just the skills needed to perform your job title in general.
