HR Data Analyst Apprentice Review

The main bulk of my role consists of completing business-as-usual data reporting, following a monthly schedule, as well working with various stakeholders on any ad-hoc data requests I am asked to help with. Furthermore, I have been getting heavily involved with the migration to our new end-to-end employee management and data reporting platform, primarily in the form of building and testing reports.

Primarily, my Excel skills have drastically increased through regular usage. However, I have also developed analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as practiced communication via working with stakeholders in different situations. My training has also given me a much greater insight into how databases are constructed, as well as helping me to develop skills with different programming languages.

Sometimes my schedule can get a bit hectic, but I've enjoyed getting to grips with different tasks and taking on all manner of responsibility. Everyone I've met has been incredibly welcoming, and overall the workplace culture is supportive and friendly. Plenty of Severn Trent's values and goals match up with my own, which really helps to make the experience feel valuable.

The training has thus far progressed in a logical way, with skills and knowledge being built up sensibly as each primary block of training comes around. The basic approach is to complete pre-classroom learning, then attend the classroom sessions, and finally complete an "apply and prove" workplace to build up my portfolio and support my training - all of which have worked well so far.

I'm yet to come across a situation where I haven't feel supported by both my immediate manager, and those surrounding me. In fact, my biggest problem has probably been not asking for help as often as I should. There has been consistent encouragement for me to take on new roles that make sense given my current experience level, which is helping to keep me actively developing.

Again, this has been consistently fantastic. As well extra help given where people are struggling, there are always more advanced exercises and training to work through if the primary work is too simple. There are fairly regular check-up sessions, and both deadlines and scheduled activities are flexible enough to accommodate anybody's situation.

The main benefit for me has been really getting to understand how databases are modelled and data stored, as I have been able to apply this theory when considering Severn Trent's data architecture. While certain elements haven't been directly used in my workplace activity (such as the language SQL), they're always in the background.

Over lockdown, there have been regular "pub-like" events; such as karaoke nights, pub quizzes, bingo, etc. As well as this, I have had the chance to attend an online data conference, where I earned CPD points, and there are a multitude of volunteering opportunities that employees can sign up for.

Yes

The people I work with are very supportive and encouraging, and the company as a whole is very progressive and goal-oriented, with several targets regarding diversity and sustainability being actively worked towards. Overall, I feel there could definitely be a long-term future for me with Severn Trent, after my apprenticeship ends.

Firstly, be yourself; the various stages of my application process supported showing who I am and what my unique values, strengths, and weaknesses are. and secondly, do your research; I came across a lot of info regarding Severn Trent's past, present, and future, which helped me to really become invested in getting a role.