Senior Security Specialist Review

My day to day role at LBG includes reviewing security designs to ensure they are compliant against our internal security standards. I have other responsibilities within the team including developing MI, communicating with the wider team, developing new processes, automating processes, and providing guidance and support to the wider area.

I have learnt many new transferable skills throughout the duration of my apprenticeship, including all the skills I require to perform my job to a high standard. These include technical cyber skills, data management and processing, communication skills, presentation skills, relationship management, time management, networking, as well as opportunities for additional training.

I believe the majority of my positive experiences and training has come from my employer (LBG), as opposed to my training provider (MMU). I work in a modern team that allows for flexible working including remote work as well as flexible hours, overall the quality of life working in this team is very high.

Unfortunately I have occasionally found that MMU struggle with the organisation of their apprenticeship programmes. I have repeatedly turned up on the first day of uni and found out the timetable/room allocation has been wrong. Occasionally the work based assignments do not align with the individuals role and therefore there is a struggle to complete the work to a high standard.

My employer is very supportive of my apprenticeship workload and will often check in to ensure I am not being overwhelmed. They understand the importance of my course and do everything in their power to ensure I do well in it by reallocating my work or offering additional support to me.

Each student on the mmu apprenticeship scheme is supplied with a skills coach who will set up regular meetings to touch base with the students to ensure they are on track with both work and assignments and to check they are getting everything they need. Unfortunately the quality of the skills coach varies from person to person.

The MSc qualification is nationally recognised and provides transferable proof of knowledge and skills across the industry. For the most part the units taught for the MSc allow for the student to build knowledge in relevant areas, however some of the units are too specific and may not be relevant to everyone.

Yes LBG have an internal social media site which can be used to connect with like minded colleagues with similar interests, who can then schedule social events such as sporting or networking events. This is in addition to the events set up within individual teams such as quarterly team building exercises, festive celebrations and charity events.

Yes

Competitive pay and benefits. Usually get a good bonus in addition to share schemes and employee benefits such as staff mortgage and loan rates. Modern work practices such as flexible hours and working from home. High quality experience with the opportunity for promotion or exposure to other areas of interest.

If possible speak to someone internal to gain an understanding of the interview process for the area you are applying for. In my area (Cyber Security) you can expect to be asked a series of technical questions relating to the role in addition to experiences based questions i.e "give me an example of when you did X, Y and Z".