I'm currently undertaking a Project Management Degree Apprenticeship with Arcadis which sees me working 4 days a week as a Trainee Project Manager with one day a week dedicated to completing a Construction Management Degree all funded by Arcadis.
Arcadis have nailed the "People First" value, I've not only been given the opportunity to gain invaluable experience, I've also worked with some great colleagues who provide you with the agency to run and manage your own projects. Several colleagues have become friends and in my experience key leadership figures are not only accessible but show a genuine interest in your development and are willing to support this where necessary. Arcadis is a great place to learn and develop regardless of your experience level.
I'm sure lots of people would say the same, but there isn't really a typical day in Project Management. Although the activities may be similar there's always a new challenge or action to work through which keeps me busy and aides professional growth.
I typically start my day with a team catch up to gather an understanding of progress to date, work through any problems and agree next steps and goals for the week. Although I'm still only a few years into my career, the project lead allows me to chair meetings with minimal supervision (trust that has been gained over time through hard work!), most mornings are spent jumping in and out of meetings that involve either obtaining updates from project teams or providing updates to clients.
My favourite project to date has been with a growing student accommodation business that was recently acquired by a large investment company and needed support in growing and enhancing their current portfolio of buildings. I had the opportunity to run my own workstream of building upgrades being in charge of overseeing end to end delivery and overseeing the embeding of new buildings within the client's property management function with support of senior colleagues and a great project team. I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the role, made some great industry contacts and managed to mobilize £2m worth of work and identify a £500k saving for the client!
Be inquisitive, really think about what you want out of your career and seek it. Arcadis is a large enough organisation and the opportunities are there. Also be open minded and show a willingness to get involved in opportunities that may seem outside of your comfort zone, you never know, you may realise a new passion!
