Solutions Architect Review

I am a Solutions Architect, which means that I am placed on different IT projects as part of a wider team, to ensure that the IT solution meets the needs and requirements of the project / business. Each day can be very different from meeting with stakeholder to understand requirements, to meeting with Vendors to understand their products, to researching different IT technologies to understand how their functionality might fit within a give project. All of our findings and decisions are then documented in detail to ensure that our architecture can be easily built upon in the future. I meet and work with a wide range of different people in different job roles but I am ultimately report to a Lead architect for a given project.

I have learn a wider range of soft skills through training provided by National Grid from time management, effective meetings, negotiating skills, first aid, presentation skills and stakeholder engagement all of which I have had opportunities to practice within my job. From a technical perspective I have learnt at lot about, networking, infrastructure, HR systems and cloud services. I have also completed a series of BCS Level 3 exams.

I really enjoy this program and National Grid have put in a lot of effort to make sure that it covers a wide range of business skills and not just the technical training I require. The staff a friendly, welcoming and always willing to answer any questions I might have.

Even through I am an apprentice I am treated as a full member of staff and given the tasks and responsibility for them, that my role typically has. I am rewarded for working hard and doing well just like any other National Grid employee.

The program is organised really well with a dedicated apprenticeship manager to address any concerns that any apprentice might have. National Grid put on a thorough induction at the start of the program to bring apprentices 'up to speed' with how the company works.

Our dedicated apprenticeship manager that operates out of the training wing of National Grid is always on hand to help with any issues and regularly holds a Quality Improvement Group meetings with apprentices to receive their feedback on the apprenticeship as a whole.

Each business area within National Grid that apprentices is fully on board with program and regularly meets the apprenticeship manager to make sure this is the case and any challenges are addressed. This means that my employer (a National Grid business area) is always kept aware about what support of guidance I might need as part of the apprenticeship program.

The salary package and employee benefits that come as standard to any National Grid employee are significantly higher than the average apprenticeship offering.

National Grid has a wide range of community volunteering opportunities, clubs of various kinds (sports, drama etc...) as well as a social events organised by different colleagues.

Yes

National Grid is a great place to work that looks after its employees and invests in their growth and development.

Research into what National Grid do, what is stands for and what its values are, as this will help during the interview process.