Data Science Apprentice Review

My role involves supporting a pharmaceutical research department with their data science needs. This could involve anything from support with complex data analysis, visualisation and dashboarding, to both lab and data processing automation, to the promotion of strong data integrity and maintenance of high data quality standards in the assay results database.

Throughout my apprenticeship, I have not only developed my technical data science skillset, but I have also grown professionally through the ongoing development of my soft skills. This initially started with collaborative skills in data science to communication through presenting my work, and eventually leadership, preparing me gently but fully for a landing role.

I have gained so much experience and have had the opportunity to network giving me a unique career path that I have felt empowered to shape throughout the duration of my apprenticeship. From the very start of the apprenticeship, you are given a list of competencies that you must meet by the end of the programme which has acted as a guide to support and direct my continuous professional development.

At the start of each academic year, we are provided with a delivery plan which guides how many hours should be spent on each module and assignment each week. This makes it very easy week-by-week to understand what is expected of me. The course also aligns well to my job role and I regularly have assignments that I am encouraged to link back or directly use project from my everyday job role.

The support that I receive from my employer enables me to perform at my best both at work and university. It is inevitable that at some point university deadlines will coincide with deadlines or busy times at work, but as long as there is good communication between yourself, your manager and the university (often hosted at tripartite reviews), this should never be a barrier to success.

The module conveners at the University of Nottingham are always very happy to support on challenging topics throughout the course, either by teams message, call or at block releases. They are encouraging of further research into topics of interest and linking everything that is learnt on the course back to each of our individual contexts and industries.

My qualification links directly to my role at GSK. Although the work that I am currently on may not align with what I am currently studying at university, there are often times where I use a technique in work that I learnt the year previous at university, and likewise, university topics often come up to support and provide additional context to work.

There are many extra-curricular activities at GSK, such as NxtGen (the apprentice network), early talent networking opportunities, and netball and football clubs at the site's sport center. As well as this, there are always opportunities to join your departments social, culture or DE&I committees which support your colleagues and keep GSK a great, welcoming place to work.

Yes

Just by the number and variety of early talent opportunities that GSK offer, it is clear that GSK is invested in its employees ongoing development. All of our work is patient-focused and all of the work that we do, and all of the development we take is to be better at our jobs to get the best life-changing and life-saving medications out to patients.

Think about what appeals to you to apply to the role and why you would like to work for GSK in particular. What goal would motivate you to get out of bed and start work in the morning? What unique perspective/life-experience would you offer the role? How does this help you to achieve your long term goal, or how does it help you understand what you might like to do in the future?