Siân Read

"I am an Apprentice Associate Project Manager and I work for Arqiva. Put simply, it is my job to manage activities to make sure things get done which is why I’m definitely a match for the ‘Coach’, ‘Communicator’ and ‘Coordinator’ personality types. The ‘Coordinator’ and ‘Coach’ are particularly suited to the work I do: ‘Coordinator’ because getting things done on time and budget underpins the whole concept of Project Management and ‘Communicator’ because I need to be able to engage my audience to get them on board with my project! "

"Being a Project Manager means my job is very varied; I can work on many different projects in a day with lots of different people inside Arqiva. This is one of the things I enjoy most about my role, being able to work with a variety of people gives me to opportunity to make new connections and learn more about the business. A lot of my time at work is spent on organisation, from team ‘away days’ to events, it is my job to coordinate activities and make sure things get done. I have really improved my communication skills since starting my apprenticeship, when managing people and projects it is key to make sure everyone understands what the outcome of the work is and what is expected from them. "

"In all honesty, when I left college I had no idea what I wanted to do! I knew that university was not for me so I went straight into a full-time retail job. During this time, I did a lot of research into what career path would suit me based on my personality and interests. It was studying Business at college that first introduced me to the concept of Project Management, I liked the sound of the job but I had never thought to pursue it. That was until, after taking many career-based tests, it kept being recommended as a match to my skills and so I decided to see what options were available.After a little bit of digging, I found the vacancy here at Arqiva, I applied and the rest is history!"

"My spare time is predominantly taken up by running: I train three times a week on the track and if I’m not on the track I’m at the gym! For me, keeping active helps me stay motivated in my personal life and in my job. Outside of running, I enjoy socialising with friends, spending time with my family and watching television (which is very apt, given the nature of what Arqiva does!).When I get a quiet moment, I also like to read- it was actually a presentation I did on my favourite book at the assessment day that helped me get this job!"

"A typical day for me starts at around 8am; I normally like to come in early to prepare for the day ahead. This preparation involves answering emails, checking my calendar and finishing any work I may need to do for meetings so I’m prepared for the rest of the day.After 9am, my day will often be a mixture of meetings and free time to get work done. As an Apprentice Associate Project Manager, organising and attending meetings are a big part of the job because they are the best way of keeping your stakeholders updated on what’s happening with a certain project. This is where my skills as a ‘Communicator’ come into play because I must give out the relevant information and answer any questions they may have.When I am not in a meeting, I use my free time to complete project related tasks like updating project plans and using excel to forecast how busy my team are going to be over the next few weeks. As I am still an apprentice, 20% of my time (which works out as a day per week) has to be dedicated to ‘off the job’ activities. These activities are independent of my project work and usually involve personal development such as training courses or revision for my upcoming exam. "

"After achieving 14 GCSE’s (Grades A-C) in the summer of 2016, I then went on to college. There, I studied English Literature and Language (combined course), Modern History and Business for two years. I left college having achieved B grades in all subjects. Doing an apprenticeship has opened doors to new opportunities, especially regarding additional training and qualifications (on top of the one I am already studying for). I have recently become Lean Six Sigma White Belt qualified as well as attending additional training on time management and Office 365 to aid development in my role. "