What qualifications have you studied since leaving school?
After completing my GCSEs, I went on to study a BTEC National Extended Diploma in construction and the built environment.
I then started my apprenticeship with Mace Consult and studied for a degree in construction management.
Outside of these core academic studies, I've also achieved the following:
- Association for Project Management (APM) Project Fundamentals Qualification
- APM Project Management Qualification
- New Engineering Contract (NEC4) Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) Project Manager Accreditation.
Why did you choose a career in project management?
I chose project management because I enjoy bringing people together to solve problems and turn ideas into something tangible. I have always been drawn to practical environments where communication, organisation and leadership directly influence the outcome, and project management gives me the opportunity to contribute to work that has a real impact on clients and the built environment.
What made you choose the apprenticeship route?
I knew that I learned best when I could focus on a particular subject and apply what I was learning, so I didn't feel that an additional two years of school and university was right for me. The apprenticeship route offered a much more practical way of learning and gave me the opportunity to explore an industry that I was interested in.
Like many others, I also wanted to start earning as soon as I could, but there was more to my decision than that. I knew that experiencing things first-hand appealed to me. The biggest benefit of the apprenticeship was seeing how the construction industry operates in practice while simultaneously learning its theory. I could take something I had learned through my academic studies and immediately see how it applied in a live project environment, and equally, my experience at work often helped me understand academic content in a purposeful way.
Being involved in real projects also meant I was learning from experienced professionals around me. That exposure helped me develop faster and gave me the confidence to add value to the team because I understood both the theory and its application.
How did you get your apprenticeship with Mace Consult?
While studying for my BTEC, I had to complete an industry placement. I was fortunate to join the Mace Consult team for an eight-month placement, supporting project activity within the Transportation Business Unit. After completing my academic studies a year earlier than planned, I was offered a place on a major rail project in Birmingham.
Can you talk us through your apprenticeship journey?
I joined Mace Construct as a project management apprentice and spent three years working on HS2 Curzon Street Station. That experience gave me a strong foundation in construction methodology, procurement and project delivery, while also exposing me to the pace and complexity of major infrastructure projects. I later transferred to Mace Consult's Defence Business Unit as an assistant project manager and, after working on several major programmes across the sector, I was promoted to project manager.
What did a typical week look like during your apprenticeship?
Depending on the stage of the project, I could be contributing to project meetings, leading progress discussions with subcontractors or preparing information for the client. That variety helped me understand the breadth of project management early on and gave me the confidence to take on more responsibility over time.
What skills did you develop through your apprenticeship?
The biggest skill I developed was confidence. It grew naturally through experience, but I also learned that confidence comes from deliberately putting yourself in situations that stretch you. Saying yes to opportunities outside my comfort zone has been one of the most important parts of my development.
I am grateful for the exposure I had to experiences that once felt daunting. In my first year, for example, I was asked to present to around 50 people as part of a work-winning activity for a multi-million-pound project. Moments like that helped me realise I was capable of more than I initially thought and gave me confidence that has stayed with me throughout my career.
What are your main responsibilities as a project manager?
I am responsible for advising clients across the full project lifecycle, from inception through to completion. This involves helping to define clear objectives, aligning the project team around shared outcomes and ensuring delivery maintains momentum throughout each stage.
Day-to-day, this can involve:
- chairing progress meetings
- providing feedback
- reviewing contractor deliverables.
I also support governance activities, including:
- securing financial approvals
- reporting on the progress
- managing the time, cost and quality requirements.
What do you enjoy most about project management?
The people-focused side of project management is what I enjoy most. I like working with different professionals, understanding their challenges and helping the team find practical solutions. It is rewarding to see an issue resolved because people have communicated well and worked towards the same outcome.
As a project manager, you speak with everyone from site teams to senior stakeholders, and that gives you a broad and valuable understanding of how collaboration drives delivery.
What has been your biggest achievement so far?
My biggest achievement has been becoming chartered at 21. It was a milestone I had been working towards for more than five years, and it required a lot of discipline, planning and consistency. Achieving ChPP status was hugely rewarding because it represented not only professional recognition but also the result of several years of focused development and commitment.
Gaining chartered status has given me greater confidence in the standard I am working to and has strengthened my professional credibility. It has also created opportunities for me to support others working towards the same milestone, which I find particularly rewarding.
What inspired you to pursue ChPP status so early in your career?
I set myself the ambition of achieving ChPP within the first few months of starting my apprenticeship. I knew that chartership would give me a clear professional standard to work towards and would help me build a strong foundation for a long-term career. It became a way of demonstrating both technical capability and leadership competence.
What challenges have you faced as a young project management professional?
One of the biggest challenges I have faced has been learning to trust myself in complex or unfamiliar situations. When you are coordinating people from a range of disciplines, it can feel like you need to have all the answers, but I have learnt that the role is not about knowing everything. It is about asking the right questions, bringing the right people together and creating the conditions for the team to solve problems effectively.
What advice would you give to others considering a project management apprenticeship?
- Remember that project management is a people-focused career, and relationships matter. You don't need to be the loudest person in the room, but you do need to listen well, understand what motivates people and build trust across the team. Be patient with yourself while you learn how different people work, because that understanding will become one of your greatest strengths.
- Don't feel pressured to have your whole career mapped out from the start. Project management gives you exposure to change management, delivery, commercial activity and wider business operations, so it can open many different routes. Take time to understand what interests you, where your strengths sit, and what kind of environment helps you perform at your best.
- Put yourself forward and become comfortable with the unfamiliar. Some of the best development opportunities come from saying 'yes' before you feel fully ready, then learning through the experience. Make the most of the professionals around you by asking questions, seeking mentorship, and participating in shadowing activities that stretch your understanding.
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