Manufacturing Data Science Apprentice Review

by GSK

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

8/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

As a data science apprentice I get to work on various different projects from making dashboards, extracting and cleaning data, and building programs to help automate processes.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I have learnt different programming languages including Python, R and SQL, as well as developing my mathematics and statistics knowledge. In the work place I have gotten to work with many different software tools and had internal opportunities to learn.

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

Get to meet and work with a range of experienced people who are very willing to help and offer advice. The company had a great culture and the work feels rewarding.

9/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

Overall it is well organised and structured, but there have been some instances where things like university timetables have been sent out quite late. At work we get 20% of our time dedicated to studying.

7/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

The employer offers a large amount of support, with a mentor and a very supportive team you are able to get involved with a wide range of tasks and projects with help from others

9/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

The university offers good support, providing a personal tutor to check in with every trimester. The external training provider Cambridge Spark however could improve with their support.

7/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

The topics that we cover in the course help especially with the overall fundamentals of the topic which can easily be applied to the work space.

7/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

There are lots of networking events in work, as well as a large group of apprentices who organise events outside of work. There is a social club next to the site with a gym, football pitches and other sports facilities.

9/10

9a. Would you recommend GSK to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

GSK has great values and expectations as a company, the people are all very kind and supportive. There are also many opportunities and experiences that GSK has to offer, and by being an apprentice at GSK you get to be a part of them.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to GSK?

When applying to an apprenticeship at GSK think about what you can bring in terms of your values compared to the company's values. Just be yourself and talk about the experiences you've had in life and what they have taught you.