Solution Architect Review

I mainly work on my own doing reports, managing processes or approving requests (not really relevant to Architecture). I did some shadowing in my first 2 years of Solutions Architects and since then I haven't got to use the knowledge they gave me. I now help out slightly with a solutioning project but don't get the support needed and I don't get given much work.

I have developed skills on Excel and interactions with various people. Knowing how to communicate well is a very important skill to learn. I could definitely have developed more skills if I had the support that was required.

I don't enjoy my programme at all. The University course was pretty poor for the first year and a half but once we started doing our actual pathways it became much better. In terms of work, I got placed in a job role that I had no say in and I don't like it. I have mentioned several times to several different people that I don't enjoy it and vey little has been done to change this as I "applied for the apprenticeship and therefore I was applying for any role i get given". You can only change role if your current one doesn't align with your University course which luckily mine doesn't which means I can change role however this has been ongoing for 5 months now and still no change. This shows complete disregard of what apprentices want as you can't move roles no matter how much you don't like it or how much it effects your mental health.

The University course is structured decently well but the first year is pretty unnnecesary as is the essay based module in year 2 where nobody actually learned anything. In terms of in the workplace, there is very little structure. In year 1 you have to do some very basic and tedious tasks which are very unnecessary and after that there is nothing. No more training programmes or any other in role qualifications to be gained.

I receive very little support from my employer. They boast that it is always there but when you actaully ask for something very little gets done. I have found that Barclays values Graduates much higher than Apprentices and therefore Apprentices always get very overlooked.

The support from Manchester Metropolitan University is pretty good. Whenever I have needed help with work they have pointed me in the right direction or the lecturer themselves usually help you out. The feedback could be better to help with further assignments but apart from that the support is pretty good.

My University course and my job role have aboslutely no correlation whatsoever and therefore I learn nothing at Uni that helps me with work or vice versa. It feels like we got placed very randomly within Barclays it was sort of just whoever can manage an apprentice can have them. No thought went into job roles matching up with Uni.

There are plenty of clubs and activities to get involved in at work and at Uni. I run the karting club for my work place and take part in the Uni karting club as well. We even entered the Corporate games last year so we got fully funded to compete with other work places in karting for a full weekend. We are doing this again this year too.

No

I would not recommend Barclays Apprenticeship to anyone. There is very little support or care for you especially when you're in your first years of your career. If i was recommending an Apprenticeship I have heard other people on my Uni course that have a great experience with other companies doing the same degree. These companies tend to offer rotations and a lot more support for the apprentices.

Don't apply to Barclays apprenticeship go for somewhere like Astrazeneca where they put a lot more effort and funding into their Apprenticeship scheme. If someone really wants to apply for Barclays I would recommend they make sure they realise what they're getting themselves into as the course is quite long at 4 years.