Associate Project Manager Apprentice Review
at BAE Systems
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Project Management
Barrow-in-Furness
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.1 /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!
3.5/5
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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
My role includes planning, scheduling, critical path reviews, planning software, using excel, information management, stakeholder management, supporting out-reach projects ect.
Your can sit in many different teams in this role across the business which will really impact what work you'll be doing.
As part of my scheme I move teams every 6 months to give me a wide range of experience before settling down in an exit role at the end of the scheme.
Your can sit in many different teams in this role across the business which will really impact what work you'll be doing.
As part of my scheme I move teams every 6 months to give me a wide range of experience before settling down in an exit role at the end of the scheme.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
How much work you get varies depending on your team and at times you can be sent to team who do not have any work for you, this can make it difficult to get the experience needed to pass the scheme. My enjoyment levels vary depending on where I have been placed, but I find the busier placements give me more job satisfaction.
The programme has been poorly managed at times, lack of clarification on what we need to complete to graduate, conflicting information on exit roles, last minute changes to staff, training and end point assessments that has decreased my satisfaction with the course.
The programme has been poorly managed at times, lack of clarification on what we need to complete to graduate, conflicting information on exit roles, last minute changes to staff, training and end point assessments that has decreased my satisfaction with the course.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I've definitely developed a range of skills and have been given plenty of optional opportunities to develop myself further. It's also increased my confidence in general and given me the chance to meet lots of different SMEs to learn from
I've developed:
Presentation skills,
communication skills,
confidence,
software skills
scheduling skills
I've developed:
Presentation skills,
communication skills,
confidence,
software skills
scheduling skills
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Its a new programme, but the understanding from staff is limited resulting in a lot of last minute changes to work we need to complete to pass the apprenticeship standard.
Timelines are constantly changing, deadlines given by staff to tell is information are consistantly missed. Communication can be lacking and sometimes conflicting resutling in misunderstandings across the cohort.
A prime example of this being that while the scheme has project management in the title, it is actually a planning apprenticeship, but this was communicated to us and left many of the scheme disapointed.
I will note the communication is improving and efforts are being made to keep us up to date.
Timelines are constantly changing, deadlines given by staff to tell is information are consistantly missed. Communication can be lacking and sometimes conflicting resutling in misunderstandings across the cohort.
A prime example of this being that while the scheme has project management in the title, it is actually a planning apprenticeship, but this was communicated to us and left many of the scheme disapointed.
I will note the communication is improving and efforts are being made to keep us up to date.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
For the PMQ revision sessions our train provider is always happy to help support and take the time to walk through any questions you have about the topics. Practice answers are always marked and returning very quickly.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
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
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It has a lot of opportunities to not only develop skills that support your work life, but they also help you in your personal life.
It's also very flexible working which allows people with family commitments to have an opportunity to have a meaningful career and still be around and support your family. As long as you work the required hours you can finish any time after 3pm, giving plenty of time for child pick-up if needed.
It's also very flexible working which allows people with family commitments to have an opportunity to have a meaningful career and still be around and support your family. As long as you work the required hours you can finish any time after 3pm, giving plenty of time for child pick-up if needed.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Research the local outreach projects that they run in your area
Think about how you feel working in team, it's a very teamwork heavy environment
If you don't get in first try, it's worth it to keep trying again and again
Think about how you feel working in team, it's a very teamwork heavy environment
If you don't get in first try, it's worth it to keep trying again and again
Graduate Aerospace Integration Engineer
at BAE Systems
- Graduate Scheme
- Prestwick, Ayrshire and Arran
-
4.5
