Automation Engineer Degree Apprentice Review

On a day-to-day basis, I create CAD designs to be 3D printed to replace broken parts, create new products and custom pieces to improve the experience of lab users. I also support the automation platforms in the lab to keep them running, attend to any faults reported. I also code the scripts that run the automation plate form to improve productivity.

In this role, I have learnt many new skills such as new coding languages, including C# python and Hamilton (liquid handler). I have also improved my presentation skills through multiple apprentice training days, in which the company hire external companies to give us training to improve necessary life skills. I have also been taught how to support multiple platforms to support the lab users needs.

I enjoy every aspect of this role, I learn new skills every day which improves my ability to support the lab users. I am pushed to produce the best work I am capable of, and I am taken out of my comfort zone to increase my confidence when presenting and working on my own with lab users.

My program is very well structured, I am given my required 20% off-the-job training each week, to allow me time to complete my university work and keep on track with my assignments. We are given training provided by external training companies to give us new skills and improve our existing ones.

I am given a lot of support from all my colleagues and have one on one meetings with my manager once a week, but I also work in the same office as my manager so can easily ask him if I need any extra support if I am struggling with workload or completing any tasks assigned to me.

My training provider gives me a lot of support, they have 3-way reviews so that they can make sure that I’m getting the support I need, that I am up to date with my assignments and that AstraZeneca is giving me my 20% off-the-job training. They have continued to provide lectures throughout the pandemic virtually.

My qualification has taught me vital skills that improved my ability to perform my job, such as teaching my C#, this had allowed me to create custom applications to rearrange data to create worklists for automation platforms to run from. They are also currently teaching me about database creation which I can definitely see being useful in the future in my job role.

AstraZeneca sets up lots of events for apprentices and other employees to socialise, Many of these events were made virtual due to the pandemic, some of these virtual events include site-wide group competitions, that included photo competitions ( for baking arts and walks) yoga, and exercises. These activities made us feel less isolated while working from home due to lockdowns

Yes

AstraZeneca is a great place to work, it has a very supportive environment, and is a great place to experience a working environment for the first time. They pair their roles with great university courses so that you are both learning key and useful skills at both your university and when at work.

Since working at AstraZeneca I have learnt that they want their employees to follow their corporate values and bare them in mind while working the day to day job, so I would recommend that they go to the AstraZeneca website and note these values, and see if they would be able to follow them.