National Apprenticeship Week: Q&A with Maristela Leach

At Telent, we are dedicated to nurturing talent through our apprenticeship programs, which offer practical experience, professional qualifications, and a supportive learning environment. This blog features insights from our apprentices, including a Q&A with Maristela Leach, an Apprentice Project Manager at Telent. National Apprenticeship Week 2025, taking place from 10th to 16th February, will highlight the positive impact of apprenticeships. It showcases how apprentices can help individuals build skills and benefit businesses by filling skills gaps and driving growth.

I chose an apprenticeship because it allows me to gain practical experience while studying towards a qualification, giving me a direct path into my career. I also appreciate the opportunity to earn while I learn, which helps me build both my career and financial independence.

I chose Telent because of its strong reputation in the technology industry and its track record of supporting career growth for apprentices. The company culture promotes learning, development, and diverse teamwork, which really resonated with me. I value a collaborative environment, and I feel this company will help me grow professionally.

Professionally, I've gained hands-on experience in managing project timelines, budgets, and communication between team members. Personally, I’ve developed strong organisational skills and learned how to stay calm under pressure, ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.

My favourite part of the apprenticeship so far has been the opportunity to meet different people and work on a large-scale project alongside experienced project managers. I’ve also enjoyed the mentoring sessions, where I’ve learned from senior project managers about best practices and career advice. Attending workshops with other apprentices in the company has also been a great way to network and learn from others in similar roles.

I found out about the apprenticeship through an online job board. I was looking to start my career in projects and saw details about opportunities in Project Management.

I’m working towards a Level 4 Project Management qualification through the Association for Project Management (APM). The training is a mix of online coursework with regular in-person workshops.

I hope this apprenticeship will lead to a full-time role as a project manager with the company, where I can continue to grow my skills and take on larger, more complex projects. I am also excited about the opportunity to eventually lead teams and manage multiple projects at once. In the future, I aim to progress into a senior project manager role and contribute to strategic decision-making in the organisation.

• Provided hands-on experience in managing projects from initiation to completion, ensuring I understand the full lifecycle.
• Helped me develop key skills such as budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder communication, which are crucial for success in project management.
• Given me structured training and mentorship to build my confidence and competence in leading projects and teams.