Lisa Hackett
Senior Project Officer, City Development
Leeds City Council
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship and what were the highlights?
My team was evolving, and as part of this, an opportunity came up to do the apprenticeship with the support of my manager. The apprenticeship gave me a better understanding of my role and allowed me to adapt quicker to the new changes.
What strategies and resources did you use that contributed to your success in the apprenticeship?
Crucial was a balance of off the job and on the job training. I learned that the quicker I was able to use the learning in my workplace, the sooner I gained a better understanding of the tools and techniques. Organising yourself is key – especially when around the time you are preparing for the End Point Assessment.
What skills have you learned that you find most valuable in your current role?
Communication techniques and behaviours stands out. I understood this in more context after the apprenticeship. I am involved in lots of cross team communication and was able to be effective in my messaging. Configuration management and version control was also valuable and I am able to apply this to my projects.
How has your success in the apprenticeship helped your future career?
I am hoping to continue into more senior roles at Leeds City Council. There have been vacancies that have been advertised, and I feel confident to apply for them.
What message would you like to give to people who are considering doing this apprenticeship?
I would fully support doing it! There will be some extra work to do, but with support you are given from PL Projects, it is worthwhile. It is important to get the right support from your line manager and team too as there will be busy periods.
How did PLP support you throughout the apprenticeship?
The whole team was really supportive and always had time for advice. The Portfolio of Evidence development support was useful, making sure that I could evidence my skills and knowledge based on my projects.
How has doing the apprenticeship benefitted your wider working team/employer?
I understand a lot more about project management tools and techniques and applications. My confidence has increased and that means that I am happy to volunteer for things that I might not have done before. My employer has seen improvements in my work application, and I am thrilled to now be able to mentor one of our team through the same apprenticeship!
