Higher Apprentice Software Engineer Review

I am a COBOL/DB2 developer, day to day work involves recieving change requests from our client, designing the change, coding it and testing before sending it off to be ran live.

During the boot camp I learnt a variety of valuable skills including database design, java and SQL. In the workplace I have learn COBOL and DB2. Other than technical skills we have had training in presentation skills.

It is a very enjoyable programme, it sounds daunting going to Telford for 3 months to train but it was great. Day to day work is quite relaxed while at the same time pushing you enough to achieve more.

Very valued because we have been told quite a lot about how important apprentices are for the future of the company. The amount the company has invested in us shows how much they value us.

A very well organised programme was put together by the GAP programme managers, we always knew where we needed to be and when. In the workplace, our own manager had set up a good training scheme to quickly get us doing real work.

We have reviewer meetings from QA once a month to hand in any work we have, get any questions answered and get more work if we need it. They are also available to email at any time and get back to you quite quickly.

Our employer gives us loads of support, there is always someone to ask for help if you are stuck on everything and they are always keeping you informed of upcoming events and opportunities.

We have an excellent starting salary, especially for an apprentice. Travel costs are just a small fraction of what we get paid.

There are many hobbies and social clubs you can get involved in at our base location and we are sent opportunities to participate in some third party training regularly.

Yes

Loads of opportunities to progress in your career, great wage and benefits, staff are very welcoming and the work is varied and interesting.

Make sure you read up on the company beforehand, show passion in IT and how much you want the job, don't be afraid to ask questions because everyone is willing to help.