Gary Jones: Continuous Improvement Lead

What is your job role and what do you love most about it?

My Job title is Continuous Improvement Lead for Project Delivery, the role is relatively new within the Deputy Directors of capital investments team. My purpose is to help improve and develop all aspects of project delivery people, processes and systems to enable the team to deliver projects better and in turn provide improved outcomes for parliament.

What I love most about my role is the freedom to investigate all areas of Project Delivery and where they intersect with the wider In House Services and Estates environment and where appropriate propose innovative solutions to solve complex problems.

How did you start your career in House of Commons?

I started my career in House of Commons in September 2012 as a Project Leader in the then imaginatively titled Parliamentary Estate Directorate, Project Leaders lead on the delivery of Capital Investment solutions for management of changes to the property portfolio.

After 7 years of working within the process of delivering complex project and programmes across the estate I decided to make a career change that would help the business in a more impactful way by focussing on making the team more efficient in its ability to deliver projects and that has led to my evolution and eventual change of role to Continuous Improvement Lead.

What apprenticeship are you doing and why did you decide to do it?

Two years after making the career change I have looked at my career trajectory and felt it was taking me towards the business of delivering value in a more enterprising commercial way and less about construction. This naturally led to evaluating my own business acumen and where I could add and develop my learning in this area in both experience and education. This led to my enquiring to taking part in the Senior Leadership PG Dip (with MBA top up) apprenticeship that was being offered by Exeter Universities Business School.

I feel I have a genuine predetermination towards business always looking at the bigger picture and benefits minded so it felt natural to pursue that strength further and gain formal education and achieve a significant qualification in this area.

Where do you see this apprenticeship getting you in the future?

Obtaining an MBA, from Exeter Business University via the apprenticeship is a significant career milestone for myself and for the business as it brings talent, hard work and opportunity together to deliver a strategic impact to the thought leadership pool within Parliament. I also recognise that being of BAME Origin, Dyslexic and from a lower socio economic background achieving this qualification would provide something of a role model for others within parliament from my background.

From a personal point of view I feel the qualification and the experience of going through the process of the two year apprenticeship will instil an inherent confidence within me to allow me to have greater influence and provide even better value within the role I am in, ultimately benefitting Parliament.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?

I would say consider the commitment and prepare your team and working environment letting them know you will be doing it and that it will require on the job and off the job access to different things to meet competency criteria.

On a personal note prepare the family and friends that you have a priority in your life for the next two years that will affect your ability to be social.

And lastly enjoy it.

If you had to use one sentence to describe your apprenticeship so far what would it be?

Eye opening