National Apprenticeship Week

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?

I initially chose the apprenticeship route because my uncle spoke highly of the apprenticeship he did, and he has had a successful career. I had been working since I finished GCSEs so was keen to continue earning, which is a big plus about apprenticeships. Finally, I chose an apprenticeship to gain work experience in the business sector, to utilise the knowledge learnt at college.

You have just completed your apprenticeship programme in project management with UKAEA, what sort of apprenticeship was it, how did you find out about it and what appealed to you about this particular apprenticeship?

My apprenticeship started in the project controls (planning) side of the business then transitioned to project delivery, this gave me a lot of experience in the 2 key areas of project management. I found the apprenticeship on the Gov.uk apprenticeships website and despite not being aware of project management as a career, found that the job description suited my skillsets and interests following completion of my L3 Business Management and Communications course.

What do you enjoy most about project management?

Knowing everything and having responsibilities! I enjoy project management because it allows me to have a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of a project. I enjoy overseeing the work, ensuring that everything is on track, and having the knowledge and authority to make informed decisions for the success of the project.

Would you recommend apprenticeships to others? If so, why is this?

Yes! I had a great experience on my apprenticeship, learning, gaining work experience, making friends and earning! Apprenticeships also allow for you to gain experience in a broad variety of areas so you can establish the particular career path or project type that you enjoy most.

What projects have you, or are you currently working on in your current role?

I have managed a decommissioning project from start to finish which involved managing various skill sets of resources and contractors to complete strip-out of the various large components whilst complying with the organisations processes and CDM regulations. I also managed the schedule, budget, reporting and purchasing of equipment.

My current project is part of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, currently in the design phase. My project includes one of the most technically complicated systems in the programme, there are many challenges, so another element of my role is to ensure good morale within the team. UKAEA has a vibrant culture with lots of colleagues who are dedicated to our mission since it will significantly impact the world!

Do you think there needs to be greater awareness of project management as a career choice?  Many people tend to ‘fall into’ the ‘accidental project manager’ role without being aware of it being a career choice from the outset.

For sure, UKAEA promote this well through their apprenticeships scheme. However, this should be more known whilst students are at school and undecided on their career path.

Do you think that apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training are a solution to helping bridge the skills gap in project management and other professions? 

Definitely! From completion of my apprenticeship, I have had great career progression.

Anything else you would like to add about your own personal experiences during your apprenticeship?

I was very fortunate to complete my apprenticeship journey with 2 other Project Management apprentices which was a big highlight!

National Apprenticeship Week recognises the importance of apprenticeships and the positive impact they make to people, businesses and the wider economy. The theme for this year’s apprenticeship celebration is “Skills for Life”.

Young people as well as employers should consider how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and so enabling employers to develop a future-ready workforce.

As part of the celebrations, Association for Project Management (APM) spoke to Sean Lowe, a former apprentice at Lockheed Martin who has worked his way up to become Deputy Programme Manager.

Tell us about your apprenticeship

I started a two-year apprenticeship in project management at Lockheed Martin back in 2016. I was part of the first cohort of project management apprentices that Lockheed had had taken on at my site. Previously, it had only been engineering based schemes. It's something that they've carried on after us, so I think it was quite successful.

The structure of my apprenticeship was a mixture of practical work, with formal study and theory condensed into one-week blocs every six weeks. We would spend the duration of our time in-between on programme rotations. Amongst that, every six weeks we would go down to London for a week to do our formal APM theory. After my week of learning, I would come back into the workplace to try and apply it. Simultaneously learning at the same time as applying allowed me to constantly validate my understanding.

The bulk of the work was done through coursework, though there were still exams.
I had two years to demonstrate the majority of my knowledge gradually, rather than to reproduce all of it in an exam room on the spot, within the space of an hour. It’s definitely not the quick and easy route, and it requires commitment over a long amount of time but it’s worth it.

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

It was always my plan and my preferred route. Although I never strictly ruled out doing a degree later down the line, to start learning, earning and developing myself was always my main ambition in the first instance.

I'd like to say there was a big plan leading to choosing project management specifically, but there wasn't. I had previously trained in another subject, and I just decided to try something new. I saw emerging opportunities for project management, researched it and decided to give it a go. That was around 8 years ago now and I haven't looked back.

If I had come into Lockheed Martin as a graduate instead, I don't think I'd necessarily be better or worse off, I would probably be in a similar position to where I am now. As an apprentice I came into the company at a lower level at an earlier point in my life, but this gives you the opportunity to develop within the organisation and become more ingrained with their specific way of working before you necessarily know any different, whereas a graduate may have to adapt to this.

What are your thoughts when you look back at your time as an apprentice?

Just that I really enjoyed my apprenticeship scheme and I’m massively grateful for it. I've got no regrets at all. It truly did a lot for me and got me out there into the working world early on. I also think it lent itself well to building my character and confidence as a person. It’s ultimately set me up to work my way up the ladder to Deputy Programme Manager today.

What advice would you give someone considering an apprenticeship?

Enjoy it and make the most of your experiences. You get a lot of exposure as an apprentice because they’re keen to get you out there. I was going on offsite trips, lectures, visiting suppliers, customers and spending work experience in different departments. It’s a unique experience you should make the most out of, because once you assume a formal role and position, there's no real need for you to do these kinds of things as much.

I think apprenticeships suit anyone. The actual apprenticeship route is very approachable and accessible. A lot of my older colleagues frequently tell me ‘I wish I'd done what you did when I was at that stage of life’, perhaps because apprenticeships weren't quite as popular 10-15 years ago as they are now.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?

I chose to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to gain more than just a qualification, I wanted real life experience as that’s where you really learn. National Highways offered me a great opportunity to gain qualifications whilst learning alongside seasoned professionals in their fields which has definitely helped me over the past two and half years, and led to me winning National Highways’ National Apprentice of the Year.

You have completed a Level 4 apprenticeship programme in PM with National Highways, how did you find out about the apprenticeship and what appealed to you about it?

I found out about the apprenticeship programme in project management due to a teacher at my school knowing a previous student who had already completed the exact same route with National Highways. Apprenticeships always appealed to me, this was because I could earn while learning and not build a huge debt through going to university and studying for a degree. Also, the opportunity to gain experience I think is invaluable and helps towards developing as a professional and a person.

What do you most enjoy about project management?

I enjoy the problem solving. There are so many variables on a project that there is always a risk of something going wrong and it’s my job to make sure we plan and execute projects so that we minimise that risk; however to be honest I enjoy how challenging it can be when it doesn’t go to plan and I have to create a solution to the problem!

Would you recommend apprenticeships to others? If so, why is this?

I would highly recommend apprenticeships to everyone! This is because you still gain recognised qualifications that recruiters are after, and you get paid while working towards getting that qualification. You also gain experience that some jobs require and a clear pathway to an excellent career. Finally, you gain a network of professionals that you can learn from, gain their experiences and also to lean on when needed.

What projects have you, or are you currently working on in your current role?

I work as a Junior Assistant Project Manager currently working in the Major Project Directorate on M2 Junction 5 Improvement scheme in construction. In addition to this major project, I am also leading on a handful of designated funds applications at multiple stages from the concept stage, through detailed design and now construction in the upcoming months. Designated funds are smaller projects that concentrate on added value in the surrounding areas e.g. additional planting and public right of way improvements.

Do you think there needs to be greater awareness about apprenticeships in schools/college?

I always felt more could be done at school/college as they would touch on apprenticeships but never really go into detail about them. In my opinion, we were always advised to apply to university as this would provide the best opportunities, which looking back I am glad I didn’t follow the trend.

Do you think there needs to be greater awareness of project management as a career choice?  Many people tend to ‘fall into’ the ‘accidental project manager’

I think there could be so much done with awareness of project management as a career,  as until my teacher told me about it I didn’t have a clue and it was something I fell into myself. I feel there are so many different types of project management that there is something out there for everyone.

Do you think that apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training are a solution to helping bridge the skills gap in project management and other professions?  

Yes, in addition to all the qualifications out there to support the learning.

Anything else you would like to add about your own personal experiences during your apprenticeship?

During my apprenticeship I quickly learnt that the best way to learn was to ask questions and be curious. My personal experience has been amazing and something I look back on and try to inform others about how good apprenticeships are which is why I took this opportunity with APM to share my views. I have been very fortunate with the people around me who have supported me and given me the exposure I need to keep developing and National Highways as a whole, who have been great.

Why did you choose to do a degree apprenticeship?

I chose to do a degree apprenticeship as I knew I wanted to carry on my education and get a degree, however at my time at school I found that I was better at hands-on learning and believed I would get bored doing a typical degree. An apprenticeship allows me to learn the theory at university and imbed that knowledge into my day-to-day activities in the workplace.

How did you find out about the degree apprenticeship with Mott MacDonald in the first place?

When I started my search I was looking on all the sites that advertise apprenticeships such as 'not going to uni' and 'rate my apprenticeship' where I found the apprenticeship with Mott MacDonald.

What appealed to you about doing a degree apprenticeship in project management?

Before finding the apprenticeship with Mott MacDonald in project management I had never really considered this as a career choice. However, finding it got me interested in what exactly project management involved. When researching, the main thing that appealed to me was the amount of variety in your everyday jobs and the different projects you’d get the opportunity to work on. I also found that a lot of the skills linked to project management were ones that I held in everyday life, such as organization, prioritization, and people skills.

Where are you completing your degree apprenticeship – which university, how many days a week do you do study v workplace? Is it quite balanced?

My degree is online through a company called QA with my degree accredited by Northumbria University. I get one study day a week and then work the other four days. On my study day I have a half a day online lecture and then in the other half I get to self-study and work on my assignment for that module. I find that if I am organized, I can manage my university work all within my day a week I get off from work. My module assignment is a mix between work based and knowledge based, this allows me to investigate the theory of a topic, while also applying it directly to what I am working on and how the theory may be adopted in real life projects.

When will you complete your degree apprenticeship? What are your career plans after you have graduated?

I started my apprenticeship in October 2022 and am due to graduate in July 2026. After I complete my apprenticeship, I would love to stay with Mott MacDonald and get some more experience working on big projects and hopefully work in another country such as Australia with them!

What projects are you currently working on at Mott Mac?

Currently I am working on the New Hospital Programme. This is a government programme to build 40 new hospitals before 2030. On this project I work in the commission Management team and support the service delivery plan. Before working on NHP I worked on HS2 and assisted sublot managers.

Do you think there needs to be greater awareness about degree apprenticeships in schools/college?

I 100% believe there needs to be more talk around apprenticeships in school. When I was at school, we had a lot of support sessions around applying and going to university. However, there were no sessions based around the opportunity that apprenticeships can offer and how to apply for these. Unlike university there is not just one site with all apprenticeships listed, therefore I think in school they need help from students in finding what apprenticeship opportunities are out there for them. I also think a lot of people still hold the belief that apprenticeships are for more labor-intensive jobs and university is the only route for other careers.

Do you think that apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training are a solution to helping bridge the skills gap in project management and other professions?

I believe apprenticeships do help bridge the skill gap as it allows you to practically expand the skills that you learn at university. I personally found I learnt most about project management through practically working on a project with other professionals who are able to advise, share their knowledge and expertise and give feedback. The university learning helps me understand the theory of why we do certain processes and how this process could maybe be improved. I think this on the job training is something that the typical university route misses out on, that in turn means they are not always equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge for their professions. Therefore, the on the job training makes apprentices more work ready when they graduate.

Do you think there needs to be greater awareness of project management as a career choice?

Before finding the apprenticeship with Mott MacDonald in project management, I wasn’t aware that project management was such a big in demand job especially at my age. It wasn’t a career path that was ever mentioned to me in school, and this led me to believe it was a job for people more experienced in certain industries. Due to it being a career that is very people based, every day is different and can be applied to most industries. I think it is a very attractive career path if people were more aware of it and what it entails.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?

I would say to first consider if an apprenticeship is really for you, I love my job as an apprentice, but I knew it would be hard work compared to doing the traditional university route. If you are willing to work hard then the benefit and experience that you get is definitely worth it. However, I do think it’s not the route for everyone, especially if you’re eager to have the typical ‘university experience ‘. When choosing what apprenticeship is best for you, I would say to really investigate the culture of the company. I believe that in order for you to get the most out of your apprenticeship you need to feel aligned with the company and it be an environment that supports your learning and development. Mott MacDonald have offered me so much support with both my university assignments, extra qualification, on the job learning and getting exposure to such a big project and the chance to Network with people across the business. Another way to do this is to be yourself in your interviews, showing your personality allows you to make a clearer judgment if your personality matches well with the company.

Anything else you would like to add about your own personal experiences during your degree apprenticeship?

One aspect of my apprenticeship that I did not expect to gain is all the extra opportunities outside of university and day to day work that you get to be part of. I have had the opportunity to talk on boards at apprenticeship events, talk to six forms and join social events in my workplace. As well as working on my personal brand as a professional and gaining a valuable network around me.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships have always appealed to me as you’re able to gain a qualification, while working (gaining the experience) and earning a wage. I believe an apprenticeship provides you with more skills and the relevant experience for a role alongside the qualification. It’s also enabled me to save money for a house which I wouldn’t have been able to do without an apprenticeship. Overall, they provide me with better opportunities and a good start to my career!

You are currently doing a Level 4 apprenticeship programme in PM with National Highways; how did you find out about the apprenticeship and what appealed to you about it?

I originally came across National Highway’s apprenticeships on their career website. I was browsing through a number of large companies to see what different opportunities were out there. National Highways offered many different apprenticeships ranging from marketing, engineering, project management and to law. The project management apprenticeship appealed to me most as it comes with a variation of learning topics – risk management, procurement, leadership, communication and much more. It gives me the opportunity to explore, find what I enjoy doing most and better my knowledge. Project management sounded like something I would enjoy as the skills required are something I could showcase and expand on.

What do you enjoy most about project management?

Project management is never the same; one day I could be doing a risk management plan to manage and mitigate the risks of my project and then next I could be communicating with my stakeholders, keeping them up to date with my project. I like how different it is compared to a job which is the same every day and project management can differentiate just like projects. As I am someone who likes to keep engaged this is perfect for keeping my mind busy by facing challenges and managing them accordingly.

Would you recommend apprenticeships to others? If so, why is this?

Apprenticeships should be recommended more; they should be promoted and encouraged throughout schools and colleges. I have always tried to motivate others to choose an apprenticeship rather than studying at university. They have so many benefits and prepare you for work by providing the experience of working while gaining the qualification. This makes you stand out more to an employer, they want to see experience as well as a qualification. At any opportunity I get, I love to attend events where I can showcase my enthusiasm for apprenticeships and express how important I think they are.

What projects have you, or are you currently working on in your current role?

I currently work on a social value project which is our way of giving back to communities who are negatively affected by our work. For example, we have done projects on refurbishing local community centres, purchased activity equipment, and installing defibrillators. I thoroughly enjoy this project as we’re able to see the benefits once a social value project is complete, the communities really appreciate our work. My role within the project consists of managing the financial side of the project, making sure the forecast is up to date, looking at any budget risks.

I also communicate a lot with suppliers to process the small initiatives from start to finish. My team encourages me to get involved with everything within the project which is great for gaining the experience needed.

Do you think there needs to be greater awareness about apprenticeships in schools/college?

Throughout school, I was always encouraged by teachers to go to sixth form and go to university ‘if you want a good job’ in the future. University never appealed to me as I had a few older friends through previous part time work who regretted going to university because of the financial debt it caused them, this was something I really didn’t want to get going to university. I researched apprenticeships myself to see what kind of qualifications you could gain – I found you could gain qualifications from level 2 right to level 7. I was surprised at the fact you could gain a degree with an apprenticeship without the financial debt!

Apprenticeships should be advertised more throughout schools and colleges; they aren’t talked about enough and they have so many benefits. You are able to earn a salary allowing you to save, get the relevant experience and get a qualification which is already paid for. Employers are more likely to hire you with more relevant experience compared to just a degree with no experience, they allow you to gain working skills such a communication, time keeping, organisational skills and gaining confidence. Why wouldn’t you encourage apprenticeships?

Do you think there needs to be greater awareness of project management as a career choice? Many people tend to ‘fall into’ the ‘accidental project manager’ role without being aware of it being a career choice from the outset.

Yes, I had never heard of a project manager and didn’t understand what it involved. I think project management provides you with a wide range of skills to learn and practice, it gives me the chance to see which areas I enjoyed most and expand your knowledge. In school I enjoyed business studies, but I didn’t know what career role I wanted to go into. I researched project management and thought it would be something I’d enjoy with a lot of opportunities. Project management should be made more aware as it is a great qualification to have due to the amount of learning available and the opportunities it has to offer. I also found project management to come with more social skills and networking exposure which has improved my confidence, especially when doing presentations or talks to bigger groups.

Do you think that apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training are a solution to helping bridge the skills gap in project management and other professions?

Apprenticeships and on-the-job training allow you to learn the skills which you wouldn’t if you weren’t doing the experience. As mentioned above you learn skills such as time keeping, being organised, gaining confidence, teamworking, social skills and much more, which you wouldn’t if you were just studying the subject. They both allow you to learn more than just the subject.

Anything else you would like to add about your own personal experiences during your apprenticeship?

I would hugely encourage an apprenticeship and the project management apprenticeship especially has been great for me, for someone who has an intertest in the business industry but unsure of what role to pursue in.