Placement Review

During my placement with Mace Consult, I worked in a project support role across two major programmes: the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Sizewell C.
On a day-to-day basis, my role involved supporting project delivery through a combination of reporting, coordination, and stakeholder engagement. I was responsible for producing and improving project reporting outputs, leading the coordination of traffic management, and progressing technical queries raised by the contractor.
Overall, my role required strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams in fast-paced project environments.

Yes, I was given a significant level of responsibility throughout my placement, which increased as I gained experience and confidence.
Early on, I was trusted to take ownership of key reporting tasks on the MoJ programme, where I independently developed improvements to existing processes, particularly through Excel automation. These changes had a direct impact on the efficiency and accuracy of project reporting.
As my placement progressed, I was given further responsibility on Sizewell C, where I took a more proactive role in coordinating activities across stakeholders. I led weekly traffic management coordination meetings, helped progress site queries raised by the contractor, took meeting minutes and actions during SLT meetings, and stepped in to cover responsibilities for colleagues when needed.
This level of ownership allowed me to operate more like a graduate-level team member, developing both my technical and professional skills while contributing meaningful value to the projects I worked on.

From a technical perspective, I significantly improved my proficiency in Excel, particularly in building more efficient and automated reporting tools. For example, I developed solutions to streamline gateway tracking on the MoJ programme, reducing manual input and improving accuracy. I also gained experience in programme coordination and reporting within complex project environments, which strengthened my understanding of how mega projects are managed.
In addition, I developed strong stakeholder management and communication skills. Through my work on Sizewell C, I regularly engaged with multiple teams and took the lead in weekly traffic management coordination meetings. This helped me build confidence in presenting information clearly, managing discussions, and ensuring alignment across stakeholders.
I also strengthened key professional skills such as organisation, time management, and problem-solving. Working across two major projects required me to prioritise effectively, adapt quickly to new environments, and take ownership of tasks, particularly when covering for colleagues or leading on specific activities such as AD4 road closure tracking improvements.

On both projects I was on, senior team members were approachable and willing to provide guidance when needed, which helped me quickly understand my responsibilities and the wider project context. At the same time, I was encouraged to take ownership of my work and work independently, which supported my development.
As my confidence grew, the level of supervision reduced, allowing me to operate more autonomously while still having access to support when required. This balance enabled me to both learn effectively and contribute meaningfully to the team.

The company culture at Mace was professional, collaborative, and supportive. There was a strong emphasis on teamwork, with colleagues at all levels approachable and willing to share knowledge and provide guidance.

I really enjoyed my placement at Mace. It provided a valuable opportunity to work on two large-scale projects while developing both technical and professional skills.
I particularly enjoyed the level of responsibility I was given and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to project delivery, rather than just observe. The fast-paced and collaborative environment kept the work engaging, and I found it rewarding to see the impact of my contributions.

Yes