YOUR FULL NAME: Isabel
Chadwick
ROLE TITLE: Project
Planning & Controls Apprentice
ARE YOU A GRADUATE OR APPRENTICE: Apprentice
ROLE OVERVIEW:
For
the first year of my apprenticeship, I worked in the Project Management Office
(PMO). Project planners/controllers work alongside project managers to manage
costs, schedules and resources, maintaining a monthly drumbeat of project
reporting.
What did you do before Thales? How did you find out about us? How long have you been with us? Have you transitioned roles or progressed since joining us yet?
After I left sixth form, I was unsure of the career path I
wanted to take, so I worked as a Business Support Officer until I could move to
Canada on a working holiday visa. I spent the next couple of years living
abroad in America, Germany and Australia as well as Canada.
After this period, I started applying to
apprenticeships and found Thales through an online apprenticeship site. Like
most people, I hadn’t heard of it previously, but gained a good impression
through research and the application process. I have now been with Thales for a
year and a half, and have moved from a project controller role to an assistant
project manager role. I am developing all the time, and know I will progress
further in the future through the support of the people around me.
Why is your current role important? How do you add benefit to your team?
My current role as an assistant project manager is important
because I serve as a bridge between the project’s strategic goals and its
day-to-day execution. I add benefit to my team through my attention to detail,
effective communication and proactive support.
VOLUNTEERING STORY
Have you volunteered yet? What did you do? What did you gain or enjoy from volunteering
When I joined Thales, I was very impressed at the quantity
of volunteering hours available to early careers – 80 hours per year in your
first two years. I have definitely made the most of them, organising
opportunities in my first year for my peers and I, and forming new
relationships with local charities. Notably, ten of my colleagues and I ran the
Great Manchester Run for The Wellspring in May 2024, sponsored by the Thales
Community Investment Fund.
I have also been part of the Early Careers
Committee, first as a Social Impact Rep and now as Chair. This opportunity has escalated
my development in many ways, and I am incredibly grateful for it.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT THALES?
The
most important aspect of a job for me is the people I work with. I genuinely
enjoy my role at Thales because of the supportive and collaborative colleagues
I interact with every day. They are always willing to lend a hand when needed,
and it's inspiring to work alongside so many talented individuals from whom I
can continuously learn.
