I chose to pursue project management after completing my Master’s in Biology and realising that a lab-based career wasn’t for me. Alongside my studies, I managed a number of restaurants in Brighton and was responsible for opening a new site. Looking back, that experience felt very much like running a small project, and it was something I genuinely enjoyed. It was this experience that sparked my interest in project management as a career.
I knew I wanted to join a graduate scheme because I value structure, and the Babcock Graduate Programme stood out for the opportunity to rotate across different areas of the business over two years, as well as the career prospects available beyond the scheme. It felt like an excellent environment in which to develop, offering strong progression opportunities and long-term job security.
The opportunity to rotate around the business has been my favourite part of the graduate programme, as it has given me experience across different business areas, projects and project management disciplines.
I started in Naval Nuclear in Bristol, working within Submarine Support Engineering, where I supported planning and maintenance activities for in-service submarines. This gave me a strong understanding of long-term planning, maintenance scheduling and stakeholder management within a highly regulated environment.
I then moved to Mission Systems, supporting Dreadnought Production at the other Bristol site. This was a completely different experience, working on the production floor and seeing equipment being built first-hand. It was a much faster-paced style of project management, with a strong focus on procurement, manufacturing processes and resolving challenges in real time to keep production moving.
My third placement took me to Plymouth, back within Naval Nuclear, where I worked at the dockyard as part of the Major Infrastructure Projects team. Here, I worked within the Project Management Office (PMO) and closely alongside Project Controls, supporting planning, risk management and project governance activities across a portfolio of infrastructure projects to improve the dockyard.
Most recently, I returned to Mission Systems, working on a fast-paced and exciting bid. My role involved coordinating project artefacts and supporting their progression through governance reviews ahead of bid submission. I enjoyed this placement so much that I decided it was where I would like to build my career, and I am pleased to be remaining with the team after the graduate programme in a promoted role as an Assistant Project Manager.
The variety of these placements has given me experience across engineering support, production, infrastructure delivery and bidding, which has been invaluable in helping me understand how project management is applied across different parts of the business, while also allowing me to discover where my interests and strengths lie.
One of the highlights of my time at Babcock has been my involvement in the University Engagement Programme. I joined as a University Liaison Officer and have since progressed to Operations Manager on the Senior Leadership Team, giving me the opportunity to take on greater responsibility while supporting the programme’s growth and success.
Through the programme, I have had the opportunity to organise and attend events such as Formula Student, coordinate logistics for the Engineering Skills Parliamentary Reception at the Houses of Parliament, and deliver presentations and speeches to large audiences. These experiences have allowed me to develop my leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, while representing Babcock to students, academics and industry professionals.
Stepping into these opportunities has pushed me out of my comfort zone and played a key role in accelerating my development and progression as a Project Manager.
One of the things I’ve really valued is the flexibility around working hours. Within reason, I’m able to adjust my hours throughout the week to suit my needs. This makes it much easier to balance work and personal commitments than a rigid 9–5 routine. The culture actively supports this flexibility and encourages people to take advantage of it.
There are also regular wellbeing moments at the start of meetings, which provide an opportunity to check in with each other, discuss workloads and ask for support if needed. Whether that’s highlighting that you’re particularly busy or letting others know you have capacity to help, it encourages open conversations and helps create a supportive working environment.
I’m supported in my development through a structured programme of training and learning opportunities, including the Project Fundamentals Qualification and the Project Management Qualification. Alongside this, I regularly take part in project management knowledge-sharing sessions and have access to extensive e-learning resources.
Having dedicated time within my working week to focus on my development means I can fully engage with these opportunities and make the most of the graduate scheme. This allows me to continue building my skills, knowledge, and confidence as I progress in my career.
