Degree Apprentice Review

We go through rotations for 6 months each within different parts of technology. I started in Operational Resilience where I took part in projects including planning, trackers and assessments. I also contributed to making an internal sharepoint for the company which aimed to raise awareness for the team and what they do.

Yes, I have learnt many skills during the apprenticeship so far. I have learnt many skills about communication and how different teams communicate within the workplace. I have also learnt a lot about cyber security and operational resilience and what goes into keeping the company safe and secure and why it is so important.

I enjoy this programme a lot. Being able to go to uni one day a week and work 4 is a good split which gives you experience and allows you to put what you learn in the classroom into practice in a real working environment. You also learn a lot being surrounded by experienced colleagues.

The programme is very well structured, especially from the uni side as we always know when we need to be in and what lectures we have each week which makes it easier to prepare for. This makes it a lot easier as it can be quite difficult managing work and uni assignments.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. They are great at allowing us time to complete our university work during work hours if we need time coming up to an assignment. We also have our skills coaches which are part of uni who check in on us and have regular reviews with.

We receive a lot of support from Manchester Met University. They are always available to contact and we have the same treatment as a normal uni student (with added support e.g. skills coaches). They always keep us informed with information we need to know and give us time ahead of deadlines.

I feel a lot more confident in my role at work as I feel as though I am learning enough to contribute towards helping with my job role and team. Some modules in uni are more relevant to my specific role than others and some rotations are suited to some modules beter.

Yes there are many extra events to get involved with at work. There are many social activities including meals, escape rooms and team building events. There is a pool table in the office where we compete in weekly events. We also have regular sessions with the other apprentices they're great.

Yes

Royal London are a great company to work for. They are very flexible and I love how we can have flexible working hours and being able to work from home in a hybrid style is very good. They are very supportive and there are loads of benefits e.g. good pensions.

Be yourself and make sure that you have a good passion for the job that you are applying for. They are not looking for anyone who is perfect but people who are willing to learn and are passionate about the job role. Be prepared that you understand the company and what they do.