Digital Technology Apprentice Review

My role includes managing vulnerabilities, simulated phishing campaigns and the phishing awareness project. This involved ensuring vulnerabilities are resolved in accordance to the SLA date, liaising with third parties to track progress, logging status on the vulnerability tracker, open/closing vulnerability tickets and escalating vulnerabilities that are not being fixed. Other responsibilities involved sending out simulated phishing campaigns to increase employee resilience to real phishing attacks and then collating this information in a metrics spreadsheet. The phisihing awareness project included a lot of tasks within itself which ranged from creating a presentation, to setting up a roadshow in a different city. However, a lot of it involved constant communication with key stakeholders to implement what was planned in the annual strategy.

I am working towards a BSC in Digital Technology Solutions. This degree is brilliant so far as it covers all the key aspects within the technology sector, so far I have learnt how to code (having no prior coding experience) gained project management skills, enhanced my people management skills and many others. I regularly have 1 to 1 meetings with my apprentice manager to ensure my performance is aligned with the 9 behaviours which will help me succeed and perform to the best of my ability. Furthermore, there are many opportunities to broaden your knowledge, such as the mandatory training which all employees have to do upon joining. This training has helped me gain a wider understanding of how the bank operates.

The work I do is at the forefront of the security of the bank , therefore it is quite an important role. This motivates me to work harder and strive to ensure all security measures are kept to a high standard. My team is very tight knit and extremely supportive, should I need support. I would say it has surpassed my expectations and I am really enjoying it.

My manager understands me well and knows that it is challenging to work and study at the same time. Therefore, she guides me through this to ensure I can maintain the balance and supports me when needed. I am never demotivated and feel like I am well understood by my managers. There are many awarding platforms within Santander in which I have gained a thank you card and also a star for my efforts.

The induction was comprehensive and the culture of the organisation really did come across. I feel the induction could have been improved by adding in a taster of the different roles involved within the apprenticeship so that the apprentices would have a better understanding of what is available to them. My current placement within information security was very hands on, so I was taught really well and picked up the work really quickly. In a few weeks I was able to work independently and carry out tasks with no further assistance. I never ran out of work to do, and my line manager ensured that I was busy, therefore I would say my programme so far has been well structured.

The webinars are a great place to get help from the tutors as all queries are answered instantaneously. I would say however, the one to one element is missing, therefore this could be a potential improvement. In terms of support I would say it is good in the sense that it is available to you, however sometimes you dont get it at the right time.

We get the Friday of every week to study, this is a massive help as the day is reserved for studying. Therefore, Santander cares about our learning and ensures we get enough time to study and to work. My managers/mentors understand me well and know that it is challenging to work and study at the same time. Therefore, they guide me through this to ensure I can maintain the balance and supports me when needed. I am never demotivated and feel like I am well understood by my managers. Help is always just a phone call away, and should I really need one to one support I can just approach them directly. They are always keen to help me and guide me on my career journey.

My current salary is quite good as i commute from Birmingham to Leicestershire everyday. So the train ticket does take up a lot of my money every month. However, I feel satisfied with my current package. Would be a lot more convenient if there was offices near Birmingham though.

There is a strong charity initiative, in which I organised an activity in a local carehome during the christmas season. This was truly an awarding activity and I would happily do it again. There are frequent team away days, wherein the wider team comes together to get away from work and have an informal update on what we are getting up to. There aren't any gym facilities on my site, which I believe would really help. All in all I feel satisfied.

Yes

Santander is a great company to kick start your career. Santander will look after you and ensure that you are getting the most out of the programme. They will guide you every step of the way and ensure you meet your end goals.

The application process will be challenging, however if you pass the psychometric tests, ensure you know a lot about Santander and some of their products. Dress smart and just be yourself.