Business Analyst Apprentice Review

by Channel 4

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

9/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

I am a Business Analyst, this involves understanding and analysing the needs of the business and finding ways of making them more efficient. I gather business and technical requirements and investigate the businesses current working practises and find solutions for the future state the business requires to be at. I manage and have core communication with stakeholders, by doing so I bridge the gap between technical teams and the business. My day-to-day consists of: Investigating the current business practise and modelling the AS IS and TO BE states (using software tools such as BlueworksLive and Lucid Chart); writing UACs in JIRA CONFLUENCE); identifying the gaps between the as is and to be state; and helping to find solutions to create a more efficient and productive working practise

9/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Yes - Have learn investigation techniques like holding my own meetings/interviews and workshops. Learnt how to write and build business cases. I have great stakeholder management and communication skills (tailoring this specific stakeholders). I have learnt UML and BPMN which are universal languages in business process modelling. I have also learnt how to write technical stories including User acceptance criteria. I have learnt both waterfall and agile methodologies and work in a pure agile environment

10/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

Very much so! The work experience has been invaluable

10/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

the study side was structured well

7/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

LOADS! My employer provided me additional lessons aligning to the BCS course as well as additional learning with software tools and ways of working

10/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

Some areas was lacking in support and some were good! I wished for more exam prep - as that was very rushed and some lessons were rushed. I wished for more 'hand in' Homework that would of benefitted my learning

10/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

Not loads I feel the qualification is great for theory and 'textbook' knowledge but was quite different to the working practice

6/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

Yes loads! Apprentice gatherings to meet all the apprentices in the company Learning at work week where you can learn things like sign language, yoga, cooking skills, technology skills, Microsoft skills - the list is endless You also have the opportunity to go to conferences - provided of your teams/area

10/10

9a. Would you recommend Channel 4 to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

Its been a great employer from my perspective - Granted every team is different

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Channel 4?

Stand out, complete work experience in person or virtual, show off extra skills or interests