Technology Apprentice Review

Either i'm allocated time to work solely on my apprenticeship coursework/study or my Line Manager will allocate minor task to support our department. one on my main tasks during this apprenticeship is data analysis, i spot trends that may contribute to the reduced performance in an application. I am also responsible for analysing and recording data output required for our monthly presentation to the business. Also, i help with the oracle database account clean up

I have learn some new technical skills though the 5 technical training and assessments sessions we've had, but only one has really been transferable to my day to day role.However, in terms of my day to day role, i have definitely improved my analysis skills and my ability to discern what is relevant and whats not.

In a lot of ways i am grateful for the experience because we're working for a top firm, but the apprenticeship definitely wasn't what i was expecting. As we were the first year, there were a lot of issues with our qualification, being in the right job role, exposure to the company and most importantly, getting enough work sometimes. However, there has been a lot of effort to rectify the some of the issues we've had, but it has been a struggle.

As we were doing the wrong job role/ wrong qualification, the structure definitely has been weak. Although there was organisation in the structure of our training and exams - we were sent emails in our first week giving us the times and dates of all our training over the next 18 months - the structure to the apprenticeship was limited to that. Even though your actual work operates in real time and you're suppose to learn though that, due to the fact that i work in a technical/ skills-based field, it would have been way more beneficial if there was allocated times to learn more about the technology used by our departments so we could have contributed more in the long run, as opposed to low level/repetitive tasks due to lack of knowledge.

Due to the issues we've had with the apprenticeship, HR has made a lot of effort to rectify the situation or at least make the most of it. In terms of my team, there has been a lot of issues over the past year in getting any time from line managers, (which was incredibly frustrating) but after discussing it, there's been a slight improvement.

Again there has been further issues here. There has been issues with our skills coaches, (we've had 3 so far), and sometimes getting a response from them can be a task in itself. Some of the teachers have been amazing, and others have been terrible; there's no guarantee which one you'll get on the day.

Not much really. I have learn new skills, but they're never going to be that helpful when you cant apply them since my job doesn't require them. However, it seems this issue has been rectified for the further issues as there are now more options than my intake had.

There are loads of sports teams; tennis, football, badminton, rugby etc), social networks, (All bar none - women's network, AccessAbillity - disability equality, Mosaic - the retention and development of staff from ethnic and cultural minorities) and professional networking events such as quarterly town hall, meeting with the senior management, volunteering opportunities etc.

Yes

Despite all the issues, it does seem like we were the guinea pigs they worked the majority of the kinks out with. The apprenticeship has been a bit of a mess, but the company itself has several positive and inclusive aspects. Furthermore, it isnt just the apprenticeship then you have to scramble for other jobs or reapply, but you become a full time employee once you start your role - the job security and promise of development has been encouraging.

In some ways you might have to take your development into your own hands. Certain things that i wanted to know but there wasn't necessarily provisions for, i had to learn by myself. Also, networking is key; getting to know people can open your eyes to other opportunities and is another opportunity to learn.