Software Engineering Apprentice Review

I am on a rotational scheme where I transition into a new team and role every nine months. I am currently in a Front End Development team which involves UI design. I have daily stand up calls with my team where we discuss the work we are completing and if there any blockers. Throughout the day I will complete my assigned projects both independently and collaboratively with my other team members to get different insights and inputs. I will usually have a catch up with my manager to receive feedback and any assistance on my work.

I have learnt a mixture of both hard and soft skills. This includes learning programming languages such as JavaScript and CSS and learning to use different applications such as Jira and SharePoint to learning how to manage my time effectively and collaborate successfully within a team. I've also learnt how to manage a project through it's lifecycle from carrying out user research for design and development to carrying out workshops to maintain a product.

My apprenticeship started great as I felt I was learning and being exposed to a lot of information and received a lot of training. However, as I've progressed through my apprenticeship I feel I've reached a stand still. For example, I was meant to rotate into a new team back in September 2022 but the apprenticeship team did could not find a new team for me which meant staying in the same team for months longer than planned. This resulted in me having to find and fund my own training, finding work for myself, as well as finding a new team for myself.

I thought the programme was very well organised and structured at the beginning. But as mentioned as I've progressed through my apprenticeship it is now definitely not as organised as it was, whether that be because BT are going through a reorganisation or not, the past year there has been very little structure including not having a role for months and still not yet found a full time role for after my apprenticeship ends.

I do feel personally supported by managers. However, from the company then not much so. For example, when I was left without a role I had to find work and training for myself and I was not able to get this expensed. In addition, when speaking with other teams to find a role for myself I have been told to not expect a full time a role and there's not enough funding.

This is dependent on the module I am learning and who the course leader is. Some lecturers have been extremely helpful and accessible whilst there have also been lecturers who have never responded to an email or message and there have also been multiple instances of receiving absolutely no feedback on my examinations.

I don't feel as though my qualifications have added anything useful in helping me perform better in my role. My qualifications more or less require me to work and complete projects independently after receiving a few lectures on information I already know. In fact, I feel it's the other way round, what I have learned from my role and work projects have helped me complete my university exams and projects.

Apart from being an apprenticeship ambassador and joining networks I feel that there is not much else and is usually dependent on the team I'm in. For example, last Christmas my team was not able to have a Christmas get together due to budget cuts. Also, I find it can be hard to meet other apprentices as we're all separated based on our location, office, role, etc and I'm usually the only apprentice on my team.

Yes

I think BT provide a good foundation in providing you with the necessary skills, expertise, and knowledge. Despite having to take things into my own hands I wouldn't have had any direction if not for the different rotations I have had which really helped me discover what I enjoy and what I excel at.

I think it's important to keep an open mind. People may find that what they thought they would enjoy on paper is completely different in practice and a role someone did not previously consider might be one that they enjoy most. There's so many different roles even within one department so don't limit yourself and your learning.