Jadon T-Level Blog
Before joining Muse, Jadon Dooley felt unsure about what to do with his future. But after completing a T-level placement with the business, he discovered a new career path in project management and developed a real passion for placemaking.
In October 2023, Muse launched a grassroots partnership with Oldham College to provide T-level students with first-hand experience within the regeneration sector. Jadon was one of the first students to take part – and his six-month placement gave him the skills, confidence and direction to take the next step.
We’re delighted to share that Jadon has now joined Muse as an Apprentice Project Manager, working on regeneration projects across Greater Manchester.
How did you find out about Muse, and what was it about the business that attracted you to it?
How did the Muse Academy support your placement?
I had previously been interested in going into project management and construction but started to feel a bit stuck and uninspired by the options available for me to pursue it. The opportunity to dive straight in and get hands on experience through a T-level was perfect. Muse put on a really compelling presentation, taking the time to explain themselves and make us feel wanted. Being taken seriously as a potential asset to the company was a key factor in making me want to work with Muse.
It has been one of the best experiences of my life. It felt as though we worked for Muse and were contributing to their work, not just helping them to tick a box. The whole programme has helped me to grow in confidence.
As an Oldham College student, Jadon became intimately involved in Oldham Town Centre regeneration project – a source of great pride for a young man who believes that Oldham has a lot to offer for young people eager to learn.
Tell us a little more about the placement itself, and what have you enjoyed the most?
Having spent 2 years in Oldham collage, what’s it like being involved in a regeneration project for Oldham?
The programme ran for six months from start to finish and the team were very flexible in how I structured my time around my college work, but on average I worked about two days a week. Most of the time was spent shadowing Hugh and Alex as they went about their day with meetings and events, which helped me feel directly involved with the projects.
In meetings, I jotted down anything I didn’t understand so I could come back to it later. Hugh would always take the time to go through it with me and explain what it meant. It was a really valuable way to learn and helped me understand how things worked much more quickly.
Meeting the Leader of Oldham Council was a highlight for me. To see someone as passionate about Oldham as Cllr Shah was, really helped me understand the vision and alignment that the Council and Muse have for the project.
Having spent the last two years of my life at Oldham College, I have been able to explore the town centre and create strong relationships with people who live in Oldham. Being involved in this regeneration project is hopefully going to allow me to better their lives in creating a safer, greener and happy environment in the future.
How do you think that these regeneration plans will make a difference to local people?
What would you say to other young people in Oldham who are thinking about careers in construction, development, or regeneration?
I think the regeneration will help create a safer and healthier environment for people to work and live, especially for students like me. It will also help create more opportunities for young people locally, who just want the opportunity to be part of something that is important and has a positive impact on the community.
I would 100% encourage young people in Oldham to consider a career in regeneration because the passion of the people that work in the industry rubs off straight away and you become more interested in what the future of your area could look like. It is especially important to younger people what the future of the local area is like because they are the ones that are going to be living and working there in the future, so if they are interested, they should be involved.
At the launch of the partnership between Muse and Oldham College, it was hoped that T-level students would use their experiences working in the industry as a ‘launchpad for their careers’. So, what does the future look like for the scheme’s graduates?
What is the most important thing you have learned from the placement that will help you going forward?
What advice would you give to others looking for a placement with Muse, or anywhere else?
The placement taught me to be confident in asking questions of people rather than keeping my head down and struggling to understand what was happening around me. Hugh, Alex and the rest of the team taught me that curiosity was valuable and that building relationships with people in the team is the most important thing, especially when starting out in a new job.
I’d probably just tell people to be open-minded because it doesn’t matter what you know when you start, it only matters that you are willing to learn and soak up the experience!