Today we focus on James Stedman, Team Manager in the South East, and how he is managing to balance work, life and study to complete his Level Four – Project Management Apprenticeship.
“I’ve been employed by Landmarc since 2016 as Team Manager in the South East. I left the military after 30 years and worked with the police and civil service before joining Landmarc so am completing this course as a mature student.
Looking to the future
“I observed Landmarc during the Vanguard Contract and decided the opportunities for me lay with this company in the private sector. This was a huge change as I had only ever worked in the public sector. I can say I do not regret my choice and feel very valued and invested in by Landmarc. I try to repay this by taking on more responsibility and doing the best job possible.
“As a Team Manager I hope to move into Project Management or to an Area Delivery Manager role with oversight of projects. To that end, this course has been absolutely necessary for my future professional development.
“Having served nearly 30 years in the military I have managed many projects but, I have enjoyed the tools and techniques that this apprenticeship has given me such as identifying the stakeholders and a strategy to manage, communicate and negotiate with them.
Balancing act
“I manage a staff of nearly 50 and I do warn those that are interested that apprenticeship programmes are not for those that cannot commit fully. The workload is significant and you have to be prepared to give up significant quantities of your free time to manage the additional work load. I was on holiday in Greece and spent an hour each day listening to project management pod casts around the pool – don’t tell my wife!
“I am very thankful to my Regional Operations Manager, Area Delivery Manager, Programme Manager, Works Manager and Maintenance Manager for putting up with my constant questions, ‘Why do we do this?’ and ‘How does this happen?’. They are all busy but have been excellent and I cannot thank them enough as they continue to develop my skills in this area.
“There is a well-known saying that ‘knowledge is power’ and confidence in your abilities comes from knowing how to do something and do it well. The final piece of the puzzle is the support network, which for me has been excellent.
Hard work and commitment
“I currently mentor two of my Team Leaders and my advice is that the course is hard work and you have to be committed; not everyone who enrolls manages to complete the apprenticeship. At the end of the day if it was easy everyone would have it and the qualification would not be respected.
“Out of one to five, with one being poor and five excellent. I would rate the course a five plus and I am keen to build on this with a Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) and National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) qualification to better manage sites safely”.
