Digital Degree Apprentice Review

Currently, my role resides in the IT department, working under numerous departments. On a day to day basis my role revolves around supporting the IT network, and carrying out security related IT tasks. This can range from project work to BAU work. At the moment, workplace location is working from home.

The main skills developed is experience, soft skills and cybersecurity knowledge. The new skills learnt are great as it is both highly theoretical, academic, and practical. The balance between work and university means that all types of learning are applied, leading to the best possible skills for future employability. Managing projects is another great skill that has been developed, and is taught in university and work.

The balance between work and university is good as it allows me to be versatile and get diversity with different experiences. There could be more done by the university and the employer to heighten the enjoyment of the programme, but overall the versatility is great, and it's rare that you perform the exact same tasks on a daily basis.

The programme is not very organised and structured within the council. Howeve, with university, some units are put together without a hierarchical linear structure, meaning topics can jump and be unrelated to one another, which makes it harder for students with no experience in that area to excel and grasp a proper understanding. There is also problems with the lecturers changing. On top of this, there seems to be an inconsistency with the standards of employed lecturers; some are great, and others just read off the slides of a particular subject.

Support from the employer whenever issues are raised are normally handled really well. I receive a lot of support from my employer, and you are constantly in touch with a line manager (and sometimes the supervisor within that department), and mentor. All of these do their best to support studies.

The training provider is very limited on the basis that you only spend one day a week at the university and are not a full time student. Having said this, they do provide support where possible. At the moment, the support during the COVID period was very minimal and it almost felt like there was extremely minimal support.

I feel that the qualification tries to help me perform better, but a lot of the things that are taught are unstructured and also very old. Certain subjects that are being taught are out of date and are completely legacy, meaning they have no application in the real world anymore, but are not completely bad examples. However, a lot of the soft skills learnt, project skills and technical skills do apply. It is mainly the practical skills that are lacking.

There are extra-curricular activities at work, but not many. There are a few social activities at work, but since COVID there has not been many options at all, understandably. A lot of activities used to be regarding health and wellbeing at the council, which was very good back when employees were in the office buildings and not working from home. However, the activities that they do have welcome everyone to attend, so no one is left out.

Yes

A 4 year commitment can be a lot to decide upon, but overall job stability is really good at the council and a lot of support is given. However, the pay is acceptable and the degree is paid for, with extra reimbursement for travel. CEC provides a good range of IT services, meaning you can get a taste of every single department and different parts of IT so that you an decice what you want to do.

Align your interview with the values of the council staff. Cheshire East Council employees work together closely with one another. Make sure you get an outline of exactly what your job particulars are, as well as where you will be working and when. There are chances you will not be involved with security from the start, and may not be even by the second or third year. I would like to have been told exactly where I would be working and when, and when I will get to move around departments.