Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week: Joe Moore's Journey at Mercury3 Consult
It’s National Apprenticeship Week! 🙌 This week, we’re celebrating the incredible impact of apprenticeships – not just for individuals, but for businesses and the wider economy as well.
At Mercury3 Consult, we believe in investing in the next generation of talent by providing a supportive and hands-on learning environment. So today, we’re shining a spotlight Joe Moore, our Chartered Management Degree Apprentice! 🎉
Joe is in his third year at Sheffield Hallam University, while working as a Project Management Assistant on the TRU Digital programme. Through his apprenticeship, he’s gaining real-world experience, developing #SkillsForLife, and contributing to the success of external projects.
Learn more about Joe’s journey with us through our Q&A with him below ⬇️
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to pursue a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA)?
Throughout school, I always had a passion for business, leadership, problem-solving, and continuous development. Combining my academic learning with real-world experience in an expertise like project management seemed an ideal route to combine these factors. The Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship allows me to develop core management and business skills, such as planning, leadership, decision-making, and efficiency, which I can apply within Mercury3 Consult.
What attracted you to Mercury3 Consult?
From the beginning, I saw the value held in employee growth and development, which is crucial to the role of a degree apprentice. The number of opportunities available, both internally and through external placements, have allowed me to apply classroom learning to real-life situations, which has proved pivotal to my development. Ultimately, Mercury3 Consult is the perfect place to apply my learning in a supportive environment, contribute to meaningful projects, and take on responsibilities early in my career.
Mercury3 Consult is the perfect place to apply my learning in a supportive environment, contribute to meaningful projects, and take on responsibilities early in my career.
Joe Moore
Chartered Management Degree Apprentice
What does a typical day look like for you as a CMDA and a Project Management Assistant?
The Degree Apprenticeship is split into 80% on-the-job work and 20% allocated to completing university work. Therefore, my typical day generally involves being involved in various meetings, completing tasks on the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) Digital project, carrying out university assignments, and applying new learning within the workplace.
What are some key skills you’ve developed so far?
One of the main skills I have developed while completing the CMDA has been self-management, including developing time management, adaptability, and resilience. Balancing my university studies with workplace responsibilities has significantly improved my ability to prioritise tasks and perform under pressure. The CMDA course has provided new knowledge around business finance, marketing, leadership, and project management skills which I have applied to my day-to-day tasks at Mercury3 Consult.
In addition to this, my confidence has grown in leading discussions, engaging with colleagues, and asking questions during meetings.
Have there been any challenges, and how have you overcome them?
Initially, there was a challenge in adapting to balancing the workload of work responsibilities with university deadlines. However, over the last three years, I have improved my time management skills to prioritise deadlines and meet expectations. I achieved this through communicating with colleagues when deadlines approached, and by improving my planning to stay organised.
Another challenge I encountered was building my confidence. I have made progress in this area by stepping out of my comfort zone, participating in meetings, and presenting to audiences.
What has been your most exciting or rewarding project to work on?
I have recently started working on tasks related to planning on the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) Digital project. This has been a very interesting experience as it has exposed me to a completely new aspect of a project and allowed me to learn new software. As a result, this has enabled me to understand P6 plans to a higher level.
During your time with Mercury3 Consult, what other projects and activities have you had the opportunity to be part of?
I have taken a leadership role on Mercury3’s Social Value Team, focusing on increasing the company’s economic social value activities. This has involved exploring different volunteering opportunities and managing budgets. This has allowed me to gain experience in taking a leadership role and applying skills around communication and teamwork.
What advice would you give to someone considering a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship?
I would highly recommend any students who have an interest in continuous development to consider a degree apprenticeship, as it is the best way to apply newfound knowledge to a real-world environment. The outcome of a degree, chartership, and three years of experience in a great company is invaluable to someone starting out in their career. A Degree Apprenticeship in Business Management could be a good step for anyone with a passion for various areas of business.
What’s next for you after completing your degree apprenticeship?
I am in my final year of the CMDA, aiming to graduate and gain chartership status by the end of 2025. Once completed, I will aim to increase my responsibilities within Mercury3 Consult, whilst also maintaining a focus on my ongoing professional development.
At Mercury3 Consult, we are proud to support ambitious professionals like Joe, equipping them with the confidence, expertise, and opportunities they need to thrive. Learn more about Mercury3 Consult and our work below:
