Software Engineering Apprentice Review

As a Software engineering Apprentice I participate in all my teams Agile events, such as Stand ups, Sprint Reviews and Retros. I complete a predefined learning Journey to learn how to operate our platform. I get to work alongside my team colleagues and other teams and roles such as Business analysts, Product Owners etc. We have our own Backlog from which we take on stories for developing.

I have Developed new skills and developed eisting ones. I learned how to operate in our Platform, pplied Testing scenarios and actual development. I developed my skills and understanding of Agile framework.

I surely enjoy the programme. It was a long and bumpy ride, mainly for reasons that have nothing to do with the programme itself, but looking back at where I started and where I am at now, even I can see what a long way I've come.

The prgramme is overall well structured. The first experience was overwhelming, with the bootcamp as it was a lot of information and very condenced. It took some time but in time the value of the bootcamp surfaced.

There is a lot of support from my employer to be the best I can. Resources for continous learning, well structured in work learning programmes etc. And a network of people around me who support me daily in my work.

Well, there is the initial support. Do the residentials, pass the mock exams that are mandatory for the programme, and then pretty much the support towards qualifications is over. You get to sit the exams if you so wish at your own time. There is not a channel for support and questions around the qualification other than the residential training itself.

It provides the foundation for a wider understanding of software engineering definitely. I am very thankful for the qualificationa nd the knowledge it brought, but in real value I feel like the specific environment I work in has little to some relevance to the qualification

Yes since the very start of apprenticeship programme, there have been a plethora of social activities and professional netowroking events. From the big introduction event in London to smaller local events that provided opportunities for networking.

Yes

It is a very fulifiling environment to work for. Lloyds is very supportive towards learning and getting new skills. Overall safe and stable environment and many opportunities for progression. A very rewarding work environment. My only issue was with how the appretniceship itself was advertised. They set certain expectations to all new apprentices which turn out to be simply not true. For example, we were supposed to move up a grade at the end of the apprenticeship, which is not true, and there is a good reason for it and we need to be ready for us to move on but it was not advertised like that. Also we were supposed to be eligible for the next level apprenticeship, but also this is not true, it needs to be approved by line managers and evaluate the value it would bring. We were told thatwe can move on to net level of apprenticeship as long as we want that. Also not true. It was a bit dissappointing and uneccessary , to be advertised in such manner.

Be confident and try to understand the organisation itself and how it operates. Understand its values. Lloyds is an organisation that values not only the existing skills but also the potential of each individual.