Associate Technical Project Manager Apprentice Review
at Pearson
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Project Management
Hellaby
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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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 assist with projects and manage projects within the portfolio for General Qualifications as part of Pearson's Assessment and Qualifications Division, in the Qualifications Delivery team. I coordinate teams of developers, solution architects, business analysts, product owners and more, ensuring that timely communication takes place, and then feedback on these activities to business stakeholders and sponsors.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy the programme very much, it is challenging and I have had to learn quickly due to personnel availability within my team and having to lead a project very early on. But I have been well-supported and encouraged to flourish within the role, meeting and in some places exceeding expectations for an apprentice who has just begun their learning journey.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learned many new skills, as project management is a new career path for me, after being a primary school teacher for 12 years. Although my skills of time management, communication and building relationships with a range of stakeholders are transferrable, the various stages of project life cycles are all very new to me, as well as the terminology around software development.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is well-structured, with clearly defined modules, monthly deadlines for submissions of work and regular meetings with my apprenticeship coach. Pearson also provide a well-organised routine of weekly study days, which helps with providing ample time for apprenticeship work alongside my daily responsibilities within my project management role. Pearson also encourage mentorship within the company to support with any questions I may have.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from Pearson. They have Apprentice Ambassadors, based all around the country but with representatives in my area, who organise networking events and are approachable for help. They also organise national apprenticeship networking events, based in London. I have a mentor within my team, who I can go to with queries about the day-to-day of the job.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
Babington provide a lot of support also - I can email my tutor, or my coach, or any Babington representative at any time and expect a timely response. They also have the online platform Bud which can be used for discussions around submissions of work, or any other queries. They also offer face-to-face reviews on a monthly basis, with my line manager in attendance.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The qualification provides me with the foundations of solid knowledge of the skills, knowledge and behaviours required of a project manager. I can also cross-reference my practical experience with that of case studies, and the testimonies of other apprentices who I network with in workshops on a monthly basis. I also know I have a network of experts at Babington who I can ask questions of if my employer is unable to answer.
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 professional networking events that take place at Pearson. Specifically for apprentices, I have taken part in two networking events already, within my first 4 months in the company. I have also attended networking events for the wider Assessment and Qualifications division, which take place at least monthly.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Pearson to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Pearson has a wealth of roles and opportunities available for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience. They are a very welcoming and supportive employer, and I have been taken great care of from the moment I joined the company, despite often working from home. I feel I have a huge network of people I can go to, who will all be supportive and approachable. It is also amazing for an employer to provide so many apprenticeship opportunities, especially for a career-changer like myself. It's refreshing to be able to have a fresh start in a career.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Pearson?
Don't let a perceived lack of experience stop you - my line manager saw the potential in me, despite moving to Pearson from a different career path, and has fostered the talents in me that I have carried across from my previous job, making me feel valued and important as an employee despite being at a different experience level to other project managers in my team.
