Apprentice Infrastructure Analyst Review

My role along with the rest of my team, is to manager all of The National Archives' key technical systems. I look after the public facing devices and security software. Over the past year I have become fully acquainted with different technologies and skills to help me develop and further my career in IT and I am looking forward to what to next year has in store.

Since my first day I have not stopped learning. not because information was forced upon me but because I wanted to accumulate as much information as I can to become competent in my work. I have learnt a whole range of skills. Skills I didn't have before I started and developed over the past year and skills I already had which I have progressed and gained further knowledge and understanding of how certains systems work and how they complement networks.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of the apprenticeship. There hasn't been a moment where I wanted to go home or not be working; everyone I work with is so very helpful and encouraging, they nine times out of ten are able to answer any questions I might have about tasks I am working on or simply general questions. The Programme has so far been fully rewarding, filled with projects and asked and meetings where I am able to learn as much as I can in order to input into meetings and be proactive with my work; not just reactive.

I felt the format of the content for the programme occurred at a steady but quick rate. So far it hasn't been overloading and it hasn't interfered with my work. I wasn't rushed into the programme immediately after my first day of work. I was allowed time to settle into my position, meet the team and department and this I felt was managed well.

Like I mentioned earlier everyone in my team is always helpful and on hand to answer any questions/ queries I might have not matter how long it will take them to explain the answer and why they do certain processes in a certain way. In recent months I have been assigned more responsibilities in my job, completing my tasks and issues that need attending to as well as helping out in projects and meetings.

Every six weeks I have a meeting with my skills coach, who is the person who assists me through the programme. He evaluates all my coursework and answers any questions I have regarding the programme, the end of course exams and about other courses that might interest me after the apprenticeship. Any questions he is unable to answer or is not sure about he will find out for me. He is also easily contactable at any time.

Together with the exams and coursework, which is a long report I have written over a 10 month period (very nearing completion) has definitely helped me to complete tasks I wouldn't otherwise have been able to. The knowledge I have obtained from the courses at the training provider have been very informative and interesting however some of the information was irrelevant to my workplace as it covered systems which The National Archives does not use.

I have participated in a few social gatherings such as quiz evenings, Inclusion week activities and catch up meetings with the executive team. These activities have been very enjoyable and a good time to socialise with the people I work with and that I spend the most time with during the week.

Yes

Since leaving school The National Archives is the first workplace I have felt more welcomed and encouraged to thrive and learn no matter your age, gender or background. Over the past year I have not come across one person working here who hasn't said hello and spoken to me in an appropriate and polite manner.

I would advise people to be polite and tell them it is alright if you don't know the answer to something or you don't know what the procedure is for a given task. As people are in teams and each team wants to be the best it can be, therefore if a member of that team is unsure of something a colleague will help that person to grow in their job.