It Degree Apprentice Review

This apprenticeship allows for there to be a variance of work and responsibility as we have 6 monthly placements. This means we have the opportunity to experience different roles within IT and decide where we are best suited. Currently, I am enjoying working in the security operations centre on a vulnerability management assignment.

Experience working in different teams has allowed me to work on different pieces of work which have related to the following areas of IT: Project management Business relationship management Portfolio management Project finances Project reporting Vulnerability management Lean training I have learnt how to work with different types of people and to manage my stakeholders effectively.

Although there is still room for improvement as the programme is still relatively new, I believe it has great potential and I have enjoyed my time on it. Achieving a degree and gaining work experience, will help to further my career in the future. It has allowed me to work out which area of IT I can see myself working in.

I believe the programme could be improved with more structure around placements. Where the work is so varied with dependence on the team, it can be difficult to be supported by the team on a daily basis. My mentor has offered really useful advice and has helped me to develop my skills.

My line manager has a high workload so has limited availability. However, I am able to get access to support if and when it is needed from my mentor and managers across the different placements. I have also found by building strong relationships with different team members, I am able to ask for advice from them.

Our employer has interaction with the university and so is able to gauge who needs extra support. We also have a tutor at the university whom we can go and speak with if we need any help around our modules or any other issues. Although there could be more interaction and guidance with issues, I quite like having freedom and accountability for our degree.

The theory I have learnt at the university has aided with some of the work I have been doing at work. However, since we are in different teams at the same time, the work doesn't always align. Though, it has still been beneficial for developing skills and meeting objectives.

Christmas, birthdays and leaving events broadly take place throughout the company. As we move teams every 6 months, this is also often celebrated with teams. I have mainly attended meals and drinks with different teams to celebrate my successes with them. SSE are also greatly involved with 'be the difference' days which is where you are allowed the opportunity to go and work for a charity or school to provide help. I took part in going to Stubbington Ark where we helped them with some gardening and got to see all of the animals they are looking after.

Yes

Besides gaining work experience and being on the road to achieving a degree, being at sse has helped to steer my career, as I have more of an idea of what I enjoy. I have developed and gained new skills and I have an understanding of how a large company operates.

- Ensure you are able to motivate yourself. A degree alongside work can be challenging. - Keep an open mind with different job roles - Be confident with yourself - Don't be afraid to admit you don't understand something - Ask questions - Consider a degree apprenticeship as you gain a degree and work experience