Apprentice DevOps Engineer Review

I work in the team that is responsible for ensuring that the graphics software used in TV/Social Media weather broadcasts. We ensure that meteorological data from a multitude of sources is converted into formats readable by the graphics software and also produce broadcast graphics for a multitude of our customers both in the UK and around the world.

I came to this position with a decade of experience as a software test analyst. The previous company that I worked for did not keep up-to-date with modern working practices and I felt that I needed to skill-up. I have not been disappointed. Now working in a modern agile environment where self development is not only encouraged, it is mandatory!

I enjoy meeting new and interesting people and doing work that is challenging. This apprenticeship scheme provides both. I work in a fast paced team that is constantly developing and requires me to liaise with a number of different teams. The Met Office Apprenticeship Co-ordinator always makes sure that we have the time and space to keep up to date with other apprentices, both in our own area of expertise and cohort as well as participants from other schemes.

It is organised very well. However, and this may only be specific to my particular apprenticeship, there are some assignments (Proof of work) that require us to write about a project that we are involved in. This is okay, but sometimes it refers to subject coverage that quite often is not covered by the department in which I am working in and in order to fulfil the requirements, I would need input from 2,3 or even 4 other departments. It is as if this apprenticeship is designed for smaller to medium sized companies that have an all encompassing department that can provide all the necessary coverage. The larger the organisation, the more likely it is that different specialisations are separated, and therefore much harder to cover everything.

My team are very supportive and I have absolutely no problem in this area at all. Being a multi-skilled DevOps team, although there are specialisations, nearly everyone can do everything required by the department so there is always someone to call upon for help. We even have an MS-Teams channel, where I can throw out questions to the floor if needed.

My QA DLC (Digital Learning Consultant) is always just a phonecall away if I need an urgent response to something. Luckily, I never need to do this, relying more on the BUD system for messaging. He is always very good at responding to queries within 24hrs during the working week.

The training and the job are very well matched for this apprenticeship. Quite often I find myself working in an application or using a tool or methodology that has been covered by the training. I find that a lot of my colleagues may need to learn a tool in their own time if it adopted by the team, but more often than not, I have covered or will be covering it in my course.

I am a member of the subsidised gym here at the Met Office, and as it is open 24hrs a day, I find it is as flexible as my working day, so there is never much excuse not to go for a workout. I find a lot of different activities to get involved in through the various Met Office Yammer pages and have volunteered to help at both a major Meteorological Science conference as well as helping to man a STEM educational outreach stall at a school-leaver conference. I have also got involved in a project to provide photographic evidence of the biodiversity on the Met Office site. There seems to be running groups and other things, but I am not very sporty!

Yes

No organisation is perfect, but it is my experience in my department that the Met Office comes closer than any other company I have worked with in providing good support for its employees. Training is not only encouraged, it is mandatory. It has active inclusion and anti bullying policy as well as support for mental health issues if required. The Met Office has main values at its core, and whereas for some companies, their mission statement is just empty buzzwords, these values are actually embedded into the way things are done and specified in departmental briefs and targets. HQ in Exeter is a great physical space to work. Always a good temperature conducive to work (in my opinion), always clean, always enough desks and breakout spaces and a restaurant that is fairly reasonably priced with varied menus.... oh and free ground coffee from vending machines.

If you have applied for multiple apprenticeships and you have had multiple offers, make the Met Office your number one choice. I am normally a cynic when it comes to workplaces, but this has been a very positive experience.. You will be treated well and will be given the tools to expand your horizons.