Automation Engineer Apprentice Review

I became a part of the Robotics and Automation Development Team in September 2022 after completing my A Levels in June. Since I am in the first year of my apprenticeship, my role is quite diverse, including learning new technologies such as smart glasses, robotic arms and 3D Printers, to being trained on technologies used by scientists in the laboratories. As an apprentice, I have to manage both University and company deadlines while taking a day out of my workweek to engage in virtual or in-person university work. My role is primarily based in the assistance of scientists, introducing ways to automate work processes to better their efficiency and make their life easier. However the role also involves the maintaining of current technology, allowing me to fix and offer new solutions to current problems, alongside being introduced to new technology. Each day is never the same, with so many different opportunities, interesting teams and experiences to get involved with.

Since joining the company I have been able to develop a plethora of new and existing skills. As soon as I joined the company I, alongside the other 2022 apprentices were given a week of inductions and team building exercises. Events like this are hosted often while in the apprenticeship scheme, helping to boost interpersonal and essential workplace skills, collaboration and a focus on different learning styles. Through my role I have been able to pick up a new skill nearly every day, gaining invaluable information I could only gain while working practically as a member of an experienced and friendly team. Through my University course (Digital and Technology Solutions Professional) I have been working online to progress through the many insightful courses I get tasked with every month, allowing me to progress my coding competence alongside other essential IT skills.

3. I have found the program to be thoroughly enjoyable and meaningful, as it has allowed me to acquire knowledge while simultaneously contributing to a job that genuinely makes a positive difference in people s lives. This is a source of great pride for me. As a Technology enthusiast I find every aspect of the role in the programme exciting, giving me the chance to get involved with new novel tech at the forefront of automation that I could not get anywhere else. The Degree Apprenticeship programme offers you a sense of freedom and responsibility you could not get in university. I find this freedom to get involved in as much as possible refreshing, enjoying the ability to take part in discussions and debates in meetings across the globe as a colleague and not a student, influencing the way the company moves.

4. My programme is well managed, receiving the same treatment as a normal employee, I get quarterly goals and reviews on my progress. However as my programme involves a University I get progress reviews every 25 days with my Line Manager and University Course Manager. Everything within the company is well structured, teams sharing a calendar to help update each other. This approach allows me to be flexible with what I do each day. As my role is based in Automation and Robotics, a lot can falter, therefore my team, RAD, has excelled in managing me, inviting me to as much as possible, making the most out of important tech errors and turning them into a learning experience for me, all whilst ensuring I am not overworked or stressed from managing both University and my role.

AstraZeneca excel when it comes to supporting their new apprentices, offering help with joining before I even started the role in September. They company fully supports you through quarterly progress checks, weekly meetings, social events, encouraging you out of your comfort zone, offering the chance to join multiple communities within the company and hosting team building events. Recognising I had joined immediately after finishing school, moving from the other side of the country to start my role I would even receive relocation support in order to find a home and get to work safely. Outside of the Apprenticeship Management Team I along with other apprentices who had just arrived would gain support from the previous apprentices from the years before, inviting us to apprentice social events and encouraging interaction between different teams. Within my team I have gained support through how the apprenticeship scheme is ran, being able to gain help from a Line Manager, Mentor and Buddy (someone in their second or third year of the apprentice scheme). The atmosphere of the company is more akin to a large community than a typical corporate environment, where support is considered crucial to the company s operation.

While working towards my qualifications, I have the full support of my team, gaining great advice and information from them in order to complete work supplied by my training provider. Not only do I receive help with work but any issues I run into are immediately forwarded to the Apprenticeship Management Team within AstraZeneca, ensuring everything runs smoothly. The university s training provider is readily available for assistance with any issues that arise, replying to emails quickly, being helpful and supportive. The training provider I work with supplies work every week, often hosting seminars online for students who are interested in gaining additional insights or have queries on specific aspects of the course. Since my university work is largely online, technical issues can arise, but I do not have to worry as there is always a great technical or course management team available to help.

My role is mainly involved with the processes of automating manual laboratory processes, where as my degree focuses more on the IT programming and software aspect of Tech. As a result, it is sometimes difficult to link university work to my role. As a consequence, I am obtaining fresh insights that are necessary for my team, allowing me to advance in broadening the team s horizons. Moreover, it provides me with knowledge that I can apply while participating in conversations and meetings with other teams, comprehending their project requirements and processes. Nevertheless my role not having a huge primary focus on the same work as my university is never an issue as we work closely with a multitude of teams across AstraZeneca whose work has aspects of courses I am undertaking for university. For example during my Data Management course I was able to speak with multiple senior directors in order to gather information for an essay, all who of which were genuinely interested in the topics and able to offer great support, expanding my work network and own personal knowledge.

Within AstraZeneca, there are so many events and opportunities to get involved with. Events are posted online for all the employees to view, through emails or noticeboards. There are events posted nearly every week, ranging from talks, charity fundraisers, sporting events, bake sales or speed networking events. Teams within the company usually take part in team building events every now and then, allowing you to socialise and better know your team. Each site hosts different events, with my site hosting weekly talks every Friday in which anyone can volunteer to discuss a topic they feel passionate about as well as supplying Ping Pong and Pool Tables for employees to enjoy during breaks. Within the Apprenticeship scheme there is plenty to get involved with, as events get ran by an Apprenticeship society, ranging from Pub Quizzes, Charity events, STEM School presentations, Escape Room and Go Ape activities. Through working with AstraZeneca we are also given multiple benefits through a reward scheme, in which employees receive discounts of various activities, such as Gym discounts and in Cambridge a discount on activities such as Punting.

Yes

I thoroughly enjoy working within the company, as it is a company full of interesting as well as challenging work with people who are genuinely passionate about what they do. The benefits you gain from working in AstraZeneca are great, as a student I have been able to make such a great start in my career as a result of working here. By starting a Degree-Apprenticeship not only do you gain first-hand experience of what its like to have a proper role within a company but also allows you to progress towards a qualification at the same time. Having not only a qualification but also work experience for 3-4 years really makes you stand out and gives you a great advantage when progressing your role or starting a new one. Not only are the benefits great but the sense of community AstraZeneca has is very prominent in everything it does, allowing for collaboration across the teams all over the globe as well as with vendors, massively expanding your network. I fully recommend AstraZeneca and the Degree-Apprenticeship scheme to anyone interested in working on something they are genuinely interested in, while picking up new skills.

When applying to a role within AstraZeneca, especially the Degree-Apprenticeship roles their is a large ammount of competition. When applying ensure your CV and answers are well thought out and constructed. Some advice I can give when applying is pre-plan your answers, write key words and sticky notes when taking part in an online interview to help remind yourself of answers if you need a reminder. When taking part in the assessment centre online interviews you are often placed in the same call as the other candidates, while this may sound competitive and stressful the hiring team ensured a more relaxed approach, creating an atmosphere to allow you to be yourself. During the assessment centre, it is recommended to establish good rapport with other candidates by collaborating and involving them in discussions, asking people who have yet to speak for their opinions. During debates ensure to give other candidates respectful and constructive criticism when needed. This will make you stand out from others if done well. Additionally, it is important to show genuine interest in the role, remember past discussions or new articles, and bringing them up during one-on-one interviews. It is also advisable to be relaxed and express your interests in the topics related to the role during interviews.