IT Support Technician Review

by Newcastle Building Society

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

10/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

I am an IT apprentice where I get to see all the different departments and learn what they each do. I am given a realistic workload and get shown how to be a functioning member of each team. This includes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line support, Business Systems, Platform, Networking, and DevOps with the availability to branch out even further.

10/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I am constantly learning and try to get as much as I can from each team. With the nature of my job where I see each different team I am always learning. I am also given more than enough time, as well as a budget, to go and do extra-curricular learning.

10/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I love it here, everyone is lovely, I have more support than I will ever need, and it is a company I can work for and be proud to. Everyone makes sure that the work I am doing is engaging and not just bottom of the barrel stuff, and the company ensures that I enjoy my time.

10/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

On both my learning provider and employment side of my apprenticeship is well structured. I have had an apprentice schedule since my first day of each team I will transfer to, and how that links in to my courses, which have been outlined for me. My training provider lessons are evenly spaced and gradually build up in technicality allowing me to find my feet.

10/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

I receive immense support; I get support from my manager, the manager of the team I am currently at, I have a mentor (Someone who has been in an apprenticeship before), and a buddy who can answer any other questions I have, notably about health and safety. There are teams dedicated to proper colleague support.

10/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

I receive a lot of support from my training provider. I am always free to send an email if I am stuck, get regular updates through the providers portal, and more. The calls we have are also always informative and again free to ask questions with no shame.

10/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

Hugely, my manager has specifically catered my qualification to my role where I can see each topic I will soon be learning in the real life and how we use said topics before I go on and learn through my training provider. Even if it was not catered, all topics are relevant, and would be especially useful for career progression.

10/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

Absolutely, we are offered the chance to volunteer twice a year, have numerous events and clubs we can go to, where we can develop soft skills or look to tech young children about the basics of coding for example. I also have a section of the budget for any extra certification I wish to take.

10/10

9a. Would you recommend Newcastle Building Society to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

They are completely a purpose driven company, where usually companies say they are for the people, NBS act on it. We have immense support and are treat as equals no matter what. We are given more than enough to flourish, and we are seen as human beings , where our mental, financial, physical and all other wellbeings are priority.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Newcastle Building Society?

Ensure you fit what the company stand for, look into that. Be somebody you would want to work with and do not sit in a shell in the corner during assessment centres. You have no downsides in working here.