Leadership and Development Apprentice Review

In my role as a Leadership Development Apprentice at TfGM, I rotate across different departments to gain hands‑on operational experience while studying for a Chartered Manager degree, which means my days are a mix of supporting team activities, contributing to ongoing projects, attending meetings and site visits, completing academic work and off‑the‑job learning, and developing key leadership skills through regular check‑ins, training sessions, and collaboration with colleagues across the organisation.

My programme is very well organised and structured, with clear expectations, regular check‑ins, planned university blocks, and supportive placements that build on each other. Each rotation has a purpose, the learning is aligned with my degree, and I always know what skills and behaviours I’m working towards, which makes the whole experience feel coordinated, supportive, and easy to navigate.

I receive a really strong level of support from my employer, with regular check‑ins, clear guidance, and approachable managers and colleagues who are always willing to help. I’m also given separate time each week, around 20% of my working hours, or roughly 6 hours, to focus on my personal development, university work, and building the skills I need to progress, which makes a huge difference and shows how committed TfGM is to helping apprentices succeed.

I receive strong support from my training provider, with regular check‑ins, clear guidance on assignments, and structured feedback that helps me stay on track with my qualification. They make expectations easy to understand, offer quick help whenever I have questions, and provide useful resources and workshops. Having dedicated tutor sessions also means I can focus on my academic progress and feel confident that I’m meeting all the requirements for my apprenticeship.

I feel that my qualifications really support me in performing better in my role, because the learning I gain through my training provider directly links to the work I’m doing across my placements. The modules help me understand core concepts like leadership, communication, problem‑solving and project management, and I’m able to apply these straight away in real situations at TfGM. Having both the theory and the practical experience running side by side has made me more confident, more structured in my approach, and better equipped to contribute meaningfully to my team.

Yes

Yes, I would definitely recommend Transport for Greater Manchester to a friend. It’s a supportive, welcoming organisation with great development opportunities, especially for apprentices. The learning environment is positive, the teams are friendly, and there’s a strong culture of helping each other grow. The mix of real responsibility, structured development, and a genuine focus on wellbeing and progression makes it a great place to start and build a career.