360 Digital apprentice Review

I have a meeting most days with a Work buddy, they check if I am coping well and can give advice or influence the work stream that I receive. I then do my allocated tasks by my hub leader, and I then reach out to colleagues if they need assistance and they usually are happy involve me in new and interesting projects and teach me new skills every day.

I have heavily improved my technical document writing and my SQL as I was given time to flourish and develop my own SQL procedures that will aid not only myself but engagements throughout the team. I have learnt how to handle multiple complex tasks throughout the weeks and have learn my place in the company. And have been supported every step of the way with positive reinforcement helping me see my own personal and professional worth.

Everyone in the firm is incredibly welcoming no matter if they know you are an apprentice or not. The workdays are enriching and fly by. However the BPP webinars on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after work can be quite draining. However we have a study day to take at any point in the week to recover from this. And of course there are time where I am lost and worrying and none to turn to because a buddy is off sick and others don’t know how to help. But this has helped build me and create a agile way of thinking and conquering any problem that comes my way.

The work environment changes every week but it mostly stays consistence during the week. BPP has set out clear structures and deadlines. And everything is communicated clearly. And KPMG has set clear expectations of us. However as I suffer from Dyslexia (Not handicapped I just need to make employers and educational bodies aware) BPP’s chain of communication has left me as On their learning support program along with 5 applications and Meany more learning support emails being sent to myself on a biweekly basis. (some sort of communication has not occurred within BPP teams)

KPMG provides us with all the software we can dream (within reason) of for our course such as programming debuggers or project management software. I can go to anyone in my team for professional support. My performance managers are very supportive of medical issues. For example earlier in the year I had an accident and needed extensive dental implants. Work gave me the time off I needed and supported me all the way though it with teams meetings with colleagues and my PM as I recovered.

We receive weekly webinars and have recently been in contact with a tutor. So previously very little support. However I believe that it will be improving soon. Furthermore we can reach out to out lecturers at any point with queries or issues with the course. They usually get back to us very quickly. Of course this depends of the lecture however I have not been disappointed yet

I have not yet seen any impact on my work. There are a few modules that are aimed at my work however these are lessons that I already hold and practice from past courses. However there are some modules such as project management that shed light on why the workplace functions the way it currently does

There are hundreds of extracurricular activities we can take part in however I have not opted in to any of them due to my distance from the office. But my Current Team hold Meany events and department get together, for things like games night. I have also been made aware of a gaming group in the office and other more local apprentices are taking part in a football and rugby teams

Yes

Incredible working environment and culture, unlike UNI where you are competing for a job market we are already in a firm where everyone helps each other because if I help you can then do that and make my Daly job a bit easier. KPMG has spent countless recourses on my training material and hours of experienced staff. And not Meany people at my age are given such an incredible platform to launch from and start my future regardless of if I stay or go at the end, (although I can’t see myself leaving) I have never had such an incredible workplace, It’s my second home with a huge family.

Throw yourself in at the deep end its how you’ll define yourself from other apprentices but remember there are hundreds of people behind you and are there to Help you if you start to struggle. Furthermore I would say let your PM know if something is effecting you personally you don’t have to tell them what it is but they will be able to help you by giving advice or even as my PM did we met up outside work and went hiking to tear down the idea that managers are more elite than an apprentice when in actual fact they are just the same as us and may share the same hobbies.