Apprentice Business Analyst Review

by Fidelity International

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

6/10

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

I'm a business analyst, so I am involved in projects that develop solutions to improve the company's performance for external and internal customers. Generally we are involved in the planning stages of a project, where we design the solution that will be the end product the team delivers.

8/10

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

One skill I've really developed is conducting interviews. It's a really important part of eliciting information and requirements from stakeholders, and definitely something I've had to hone. I've also learnt a lot about project management by working on some really large scale projects that span the whole company.

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

It's very educational and informative. I do dislike the work I have to do for Firebrand though. I chose an apprenticeship for hands on working. The Firebrand coursework feels like Homework to do after I've finished my work for the week. It feels monotonous, unproductive and useless. This is worsened by the unfortunate condition of remote working.

5/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

On the company side of things, Fidelity is a 5/5. They're perfectly organised. Very well done. Firebrand on the other hand is a real mess. 1/5. 7 months in and I've only just received a guide for what is valid for OTJ hours. More than half way through the programme, and I may have to discount a lot of the hours I've logged because I wasn't informed as to what was valid and what wasn't! I also never received or was told about the crib sheets, so for 4 months, it was completely up to me to try an interpret the often vaguely worded criteria. The courses are mixed. Some are well done. Others are far too much content crammed into a single working week. They've also started giving us tests that we already sat, so our scores are highly inflated when reported to our companies.

6/10

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

Fidelity are perfect. There are people of different levels setup to help me. They're so helpful that at times it might even be overbearing. Great company that truly cares about it's workers. I've already met the CEO a few times. It's also great to see how seriously they've treated the pandemic and how sensitive they've been to everyone's situations.

9/10

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

Firebrand has been very disorderly. More than half way through, and only now does it seem like I'm being told exactly what is required of me. It's like I've been mostly in the dark, being drip fed information. Really pitifully done and change is definitely needed. I'm quite dissatisfied.

3/10

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

The courses are somewhat useful. The rest of it is burdensome, boring and unproductive.

3/10

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.)

With the current pandemic, all we have is online team catchups.

6/10

9a. Would you recommend Fidelity International to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

Amazing firm that really cares about their employees and will always support you no matter what. Didn't mass fire people because of the pandemic and instead supported all their staff throughout it. Great benefits, services provided and sensitive to people's situations.

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

Do it. Definitely apply. And if you get the job, TAKE IT!