Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship Review

My role as a degree apprentice involves supporting my team with creating software solutions to replace existing processes to make them more efficient for engineers to use. I apply a range of digital and technological skills and methods learnt at Uni to my role at Jaguar Land Rover. On a day-to-day basis, I will have a mix of meetings, independent work and group work.

Yes, I have learnt new skills at University including Software Engineering, Programming with Python, Databases, SQL, C, Operating Systems and applied mathematics. At work, I have developed soft skills such as teamworking, independent working, time management, project management, people management, diversity and inclusion, problem solving, communication, critical thinking and creativity.

I have mixed feelings about the programme. On the one hand, I think that I have learnt some good skills and University and gained some relevant work experience. But on the other hand, I feel that I have been placed in the wrong team from the start and the apprenticeship team have not listened to me when I have requested an internal move. The apprenticeship team could do better with communication which has what has let us down in the programme.

The programme is well structured in the sense of when we go to University (3-4 weeks per term). However, it is not well structured in terms of the module assignment deadlines on top of the business case deadlines. They have not spread out the work very well in the final years of the programme and it causes a lot of unnecessary stress.

My team at Jaguar Land Rover are very supportive and give me the time that I need to do my studies. However, the work-life balance is not great due to the amount of deadlines all within a few weeks of each other, when they could have been spread out in the first place.

Warwick Manufacturing Group is the training provider for my course and they can be mixed in terms of support. Some lecturers are fantastic and will give you all the support you need, even outside of teaching time such as replying to emails for help. Other times, the training provider can cause unnecessary stress by making all the deadlines close together when they could have been spread out.

The teaching of the degree does help me perform better in my role as I have learnt important programming skills which I can apply to my workplace. However, the modules have a major component missing in that we do not get taught about data structures, which is a real issue as my understanding of computer science is far behind what full-time computer science students understand.

There is an early careers network for undergrads, grads and apprentices which organise sports teams and events such as going to Parkrun and also other high scale events such as a ski trip. There are also plenty of opportunities for network with internal employee networks such as Women in Engineering.

Yes

Yes, but only if you have a strong desire to work in the automotive industry and don't mind getting paid less than what you could earn in tech. Despite the programme's flaws, I do feel like this apprenticeship has its advantages over a full-time university course and for that reason I would recommend the programme.

Only apply if you know for sure that you like the industry, as you will be spending 4 years on a programme and if you don't enjoy it it will be a struggle to get motivated. An apprenticeship is also not an easy option, as there will be times when the apprenticeship team can frustrate you or the work-life balance is not great.