IT Apprentice Review

IT Apprentice. Day to day tasks revolve around the maintaining of IT services and hardware used in production areas on site. Daily interactions are lending technical support to customers and with external, 3rd part network teams. Two main projects are the automation of several manual data processes as well as using new BI tools to provide dashboards & a upgrade of an engineering supply point system used across site.

ITIL Foundation - universal standard in service management. A wide range of internal trainings in local policy and company procedures as well as less formal knowledge shares from colleagues and subject matter experts. I have gained a great deal of knowledge in the area of managing a network and enhanced my people skills (dealing with customers and 3rd parties etc)

I enjoy the variety and challenge of my work. My team are tight knit and very supportive and as a company there is normally a culture of helping people out and getting along. We have a clear management structure which helps (both when escalating issues and not having people give you 'top priority' work).

My line manager and team leader show appreciation for my work and I have received and internal recognition award. External groups normally express thanks for work done. The work I am given is engaging and pushes and challenges me (and isn't just grunt work that no-one else wants to do). My input to problems is valued.

The program is clearly laid out in three strands (work, apprenticeship, foundation degree). The goals and aims for each are clearly laid out, as in the plan on how to achieve them. I have regular meetings with my line manager, apprentice custodian and external tutor to ensure everything is on course and to identify and issues and resolve them.

There are monthly meetings with my external tutor and am free to contact them at any time with any issues I may have. They have been excellent in pointing me to where I need to go or what I need to do. Their aim is very clearly to aid me through the apprenticeship and help in any way they can.

My manager and team leader are both very supportive and will fight my corner when needed. I am able to approach with anything I don't know or problems I have and they are consistently happy to help and give of their time and knowledge. The goal of GSK is clearly to develop me into a useful employee.

I live at home so have limited living costs. After removing travel costs from my salary, I would have enough to pay rent and live of, but would not have much to spend on socials etc. Worth noting the salary does increment up over the course of the apprenticeship, which would cause this to change.

There are regular inter- and intra- team socials for meals/evening out etc. We are provided with a day each year to involve ourselves in voluntary work and are encouraged during the year to support the advertising of apprenticeships at different schools and events. There are sports and social facilities on site, available for a small fee.

Yes

The company as a whole are a good employer who look after their employees. The apprenticeship in particular is geared towards the development of the apprentices (with substantial input from GSK), and not just getting cheap labour for a few years. The apprenticeship will end with the apprentice having valuable skills and qualifications.

GSK provide good guidance at each stage of the application process which should give you what you need. On the assessment day, make sure you are enthusiastic (as no-one wants to employ someone who doesn't care) and do your research into GSK and what area you are applying for. All the information I felt that I needed was provided by GSK (which most companies do not do).