Project Manager Review
at Travis Perkins plc
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
Northampton, UK
Review Submitted: May 2023
Overall Rating
4.8 /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
4.8/5
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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:
5/5
I am a Project Manager with speciality in Warehousing, Recycling & Distribution. I am currently responsible for 8 cost reduction & operational efficiencies projects totalling £800,000 worth of savings. My day to day responsibilities includes collaborating with stakeholders to define and document project objectives, managing project implementation plans, controlling delivery timelines, scope, and quality, creating and tracking KPI reporting that proves the success of a project, and capturing/facilitating resolution of risks & issues.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I have really enjoyed my apprenticeship so far. In terms of the course content, there are areas that I like and dislike more than others but on the whole it's really fascinating. What can sometimes affect my enjoyment of the apprenticeship is that it's not very flexible i.e. you have to enter something in on Aptem every month. My role can go from being very quiet for a month to being very busy for months straight so I like to get ahead on my work during less busy periods. I think as long as you do your hours and get ahead of yourself in less-busy periods it shouldn't matter. When you are at school, the important thing is that you hand your finished coursework in on time or you pass your exams, not whether your revision was staggered perfectly throughout the year.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Yes. I am already a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt which I did through CQM as well. The Black Belt has taught me how to use statistical software to identify cause and effect, seek out data-driven improvement opportunities and has even improved my public speaking, communication and presentation skills
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Very well organised. All of our training dates are put in delegates diaries ahead of time and regular coaching calls are scheduled. All assignments are available in Aptem and are marked within an acceptable timescale with high-quality feedback supplied. I can also see that improvements have been made to the onboarding process since my first apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
They are 'tacitly' supportive in that they allow you the time to progress with your apprenticeship. However, I do sometimes wish that project sponsors played a more active role in the implementation of the project. This can really influence the other stakeholders as it is perceived as being important and on the boss' radar.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The support I receive from CQM is excellent. My coach always makes time for me even when really busy and takes regular breaks during training to allow for any questions and to check in that we are all comfortable with the material. If I have ever had any challenges CQM have always gone above and beyond to provide the best level of support.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Massively. Before I started my Green Belt apprenticeship the way I approached projects was totally different and I felt like I was never able to predict what my business leaders were going to ask for next. However, following the DMAIC process covers all bases and I now feel like I am one step ahead of my stakeholders. The apprenticeship also encourages you to collaborate with your colleagues more and deliver presentations to senior management- I really struggled with this initially but it has become second nature.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Yes, there is a Diversity & Inclusion Committee (which I chaired over the course of 2021-2023) and a Social Committee which I was a member of that organised a number of colleague events such as the annual fun day. There aren't any sports teams but we have organised a number of team football matches through the social committee.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Travis Perkins plc to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Travis Perkins is a company that always tries to do the right thing. This isn't to say that they always get it right, but from my own experiences they have been supportive & compassionate employers. The only negative I would say is that once you get to an Entry Level Manager, it becomes really difficult to get promoted.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Travis Perkins plc?
If you show promise, Travis Perkins will support you with your apprenticeship. The only thing I would prepare yourself for is that operating costs are a huge focus and I think a big part of why they are so supportive of apprenticeships is that there is a levy that can be drawn from without additional cost to the business. So if the development you require isn't covered by an apprenticeship, you may struggle to secure the funding that's needed. However, this is just my experience and I can think of exceptions to this.
