How an apprenticeship enhanced a Project Management career | Latest updates

Throughout February, we’re continuing to shine a spotlight on the value and benefit that apprenticeships bring to individuals and organisations alike.

In today’s post, we hear from Courtney Aldwinckle, a PMO (Project Management Office) Project Officer at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT). Before securing this role with NHFT, Courtney completed an apprenticeship in Associate Project Management, which is a Level 4 qualification.

Careers Academy: How did you find the apprenticeship experience?
On the whole, I enjoyed the apprenticeship experience. I personally prefer the learning model of apprenticeships. Rather than uniquely working in the classroom, the apprenticeship model permitted me to learn in the workplace. This allowed me to put my knowledge into practice and tackle real life examples to develop my skills. Dealing with practical scenarios helped me better understand the theories that I encountered throughout the course. The best part of the experience has been developing my knowledge and skills within project management, passing the APM PMQ Exam, achieving a distinction-level APM Associate Project Management Qualification and watching my self-confidence grow.

CA: How did your organisation support you through the apprenticeship?
NHFT has supported me greatly throughout my apprenticeship, giving me opportunities for on-the-job learning. In order to help me get the required experience and knowledge, learning tasks were incorporated within my role, and I was able to reach out to the rest of my team for some shadowing around specific learning areas, which counted towards my on-the-job learning. I was also able to use Leadership Matters sessions (an internal forum for innovative learning), shadowing colleagues, peer reviewing project documentation, participating in project discussions as evidence of my learning within the role and Trust.

CA: Was there anything that surprised you during your apprenticeship?

I was surprised at the difference between a Level 4 apprenticeship compared to the Business Administrative Level 2 apprenticeship that I completed four years ago. I found the intensity of the Associate Project Management Level 4 apprenticeship high, in particular the EPA (End Point Assessment) which was nerve-racking, but the support I had around me was amazing, from NHFT, my PMO team and the APM made the process a lot easier! My apprenticeship tutor continuously made me feel at ease and ensured I was fully prepared for my EPA, which increased my confidence in my abilities.

CA: Now you’ve completed your apprenticeship, what’s the next step?

Due to the experience and skills gained through the Associate Project Management Level 4 apprenticeship, I successfully secured a Band 5 Project Officer role within my team at NHFT, so I am excited to get stuck into my role and put my qualification into practice. I would like to consider doing the next level of project management apprenticeship at a degree level, to continue building on my knowledge and skills in my work area, but I am going to have a learning break first after my first two apprenticeships.

CA: Thank you for your time, Courtney! Congratulations on your fantastic achievement – and all the best in your new role!

Would you like to find out more about a health and social care career in Northamptonshire? Find out more about apprenticeships in our area on the webpage.