National Apprenticeship Week 2024 – Meet Andrzej Paszek

What professional accomplishment from the past year are you most proud of, and how did it positively impact your team or the company as a whole?

I see this more from a personal standpoint rather than just an organisational perspective. Stepping into the role of PMO Analyst was a significant milestone for me, especially as it coincided with me joining the ‘Agena Ascent’ initiative, which facilitated my project management apprenticeship course. I was able to delve into project management methodologies and practices at Agena, enabling me to apply this newfound knowledge to my role.  In terms of its impact on the team and the company, I hope that the skills and insights gained from the course will enable me to better support the team in administrative duties and apply these skills to our daily operations. Additionally, being the second person to undertake the apprenticeship in project management, I aspire to assist future apprentices by sharing my experiences and lessons learned, thereby benefiting the organisation.  Overall, I believe this experience has been invaluable, and I’m eager to continue learning and contributing to the team’s success.

If you could time travel and give your past self-one work-related advice, what would it be?

Oh, I quite like this one! I’d say don’t sabotage yourself and take opportunities that come your way. Even if this will mean that you’re going to go out of your comfort zone, this is where the magic happens. This is when you land the most. This is when you get the most from the opportunity. So, I’ll say don’t be afraid and really take what’s in front of you.

Even if you’re not feeling 100% confident, sometimes being 75% sure is enough to take the leap. Often, the remaining 25% will come to you as you go along. It’s about seizing opportunities and not letting self-doubt hold you back. I’ve experienced this firsthand – there were times I hesitated, but looking back, taking those chances led me to where I am now.  It’s a lesson you learn over time, especially in a corporate environment – you have to be willing to take risks and embrace new opportunities. Even if things don’t go as planned, giving it your best effort allows you to learn and grow from the experience. It’s all part of the learning curve, and even if it ends in failure, there are still valuable lessons to be gained.

Looking back on your apprenticeship experience, how do you see your role evolving in the coming year? Are there particular skills or areas you’re excited to further explore or develop?

I think it’s a natural question to ask about my future plans, especially considering my apprenticeship in Level 4 project management. It’s no surprise that my aim is to secure a role as a project manager within our group. I’m excited about delving deeper into essential skills like strategic planning, team leadership, and effective project execution.  However, it’s important to note that the learning doesn’t stop there. Much like with doctors who constantly learn new methodologies and techniques, project managers also need to stay updated with the latest practices in the field. After completing this course, my plan is to pursue additional qualifications such as the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) and Professional Product Owner (PSPO). These courses provide a deep dive into the agile world of project management, which offers more flexibility and adaptability.

What’s the most unexpected skill you’ve acquired since joining our team?

I’d say that the crucial one for me was adaptability. This is because in my past, before starting working as a project manager here, I was working as a parking attendant and team leader. I was overseeing a group of about 30 staff across the old South of England. I literally had to adapt a lot when I went from a typical management role to the role that I’m doing now, which is more focused on supporting project delivery. I think this wasn’t something I specifically developed well. However, being able to adjust to the changing nature of the roles pretty much was something that allowed me to, and the more you’re able to adapt to the situation, also the more confidence you gain and the more resilient you are. I would say that this is the skill that appears to me the most when I thought about it. Especially if I am not adaptable, my self-confidence is not really at the highest level. So, this was something that came along and allowed me to pretty much cope with my duties and the role itself in a much more flexible, better way.

Have you identified any trends or insights in the car parking world that have surprised or intrigued you?

Now, this is a brilliant one. Nobody plans to get into the car parking industry, but when people get in, it’s quite difficult to leave. And this is backed by a few people I spoke with in the business, and they repeated that. A couple of years ago, as someone who was not familiar with the car parking industry, I wouldn’t have thought that there could be anything particularly interesting or surprising about it. But how the perspective changes when you start working within the industry, it’s amazing. So, coming back to the question, I’d say that smart parking solutions is something that appealed to me the most. I mean, right now we have these cashless options on car parks, we have the mobile apps, we have the ANPR cameras, everything links together to provide great customer user experience. And I think that because of that, the UK is quite ahead of all the other places in the world. So, to compare it with Poland, where I come from, I believe that you are at least 10 years ahead when it comes to how the car parking industry is operating within the country. So, yeah, I would say smart parking solutions is something that’s surprising and intriguing. These innovations, together with Data Insights, really gives something that is worth having exploring.

If there was an Agena time capsule, what item would you contribute to represent our current work culture?

I found this question very difficult when I read it.  I had to think about what item can actually represent what I wanted to represent. What I came up with was: if you think about puzzle pieces, then if each of the puzzle pieces would represent each of the company’s values. I won’t go into all 6, but if I picked Collaboration, we could then put that in a time capsule and reflect on it in the future. It will be some sort of testament to how we come together and work together to progress towards the organisational goals at Agena. So yeah, that’s what I would put in.

If you could trade jobs with someone from a different department for a week, who would it be and why?

As already mentioned, I worked in a different department before and, pretty much as a result of it, actually managed to speak with many people across our business. But I may go with either account managers or sales. And this is because the way they are working is quite different to what I’ve been doing so far. They face clients daily. As I mentioned previously, my confidence is not the highest, but I think that this could be quite a good exposure for me – for the week to go and do a job that requires you to have as much exposure as you can. And on the other hand, I think this goes both ways. There is dual benefit. I don’t think that everybody in the business knows, for instance, what my role is, in terms of workload and that would also provide the benefit for all to see and say: “Yeah, OK, now I can see what you guys are doing as well”. And it could pretty much help each side gain some transferable skills. So, yes – from my perspective, either account managers or sales because I think this is the place where the exposure is the highest.

Why would you recommend becoming an apprentice at Agena?

To be honest, why wouldn’t I? Well, I don’t know many apprentices outside our organisation. So, I researched online before applying for this role and considered what I could expect from the apprenticeship itself. When I got to the reality, I was really surprised by how well this is all being managed within our organisation.

During work hours, I have dedicated learning time and attend lectures, as well as putting in a lot of work for the apprenticeship itself. However, this effort was significantly boosted by the mentorship and guidance I received. Whenever I asked for support from either Allison or Alex, my Bright Stars mentor, I always received the answers and help I needed to understand and apply the learning areas. After these sessions, I gained a better understanding and could apply it both in my role and the course I’m undertaking. The support has been tremendous. If I needed extra time to go over something, I was always encouraged to do so, and this allowed me the time I needed to fully commit to both my role and the apprenticeship, ensuring I derive maximum benefit from it.

Additionally, I must highlight the company’s strong commitment to employee growth, which is exemplified by my opportunity to pursue both the apprenticeship and the Bright Stars initiative simultaneously. This support showcases the company’s dedication to the personal and professional development of its employees, and I believe it speaks volumes about the organisation’s commitment to nurturing its workforce.

Besides that, I’d like to mention how the apprenticeship aligns with future career goals. It’s like laying the groundwork for future roles within the company. So, it not only gives you hands-on experience and learning opportunities but also fits in with the company’s talent retention strategy.  If someone asks me whether they should go for the apprenticeship at Agena, I’d say yes. It’s been an incredible journey, meeting amazing people, networking, and gaining valuable experiences.  I also want to highlight that I come from an academic background, so I had an idea of what to expect from my past university experience. Some people might doubt the value of an apprenticeship compared to university, but I can assure you it’s just as valuable if not more. In fact, I find my apprenticeship course even more challenging than my university studies. It’s pushed me in new directions, allowing for personal growth and development.

So back to the snacks then – what’s your go-to snack during a busy workday, and why does it keep you fuelled?

I enjoy snacking on fruits, particularly apples and bananas – especially bananas. They’re my go-to snack, especially during busy workdays. Plus, they pair well with chocolate and peanut butter, making them even more enjoyable and keeping me fuelled for longer. So, yes, a banana every day – you can’t go wrong with that!