Data Science & People Analytics Manager Review

I manage a people analytics team within HR which is responsible for maturing the analytics available to the business across the whole HR lifecycle. The business has given me a great career so far and has helped me develop into a management role by trusting the self-developed skills I have. In order to continue to meet the ever growing technical requirements of people analytics the business has committed to supporting my development by allowing me to undertake an advanced data fellowship with Multiverse.

The early part of the apprenticeship helped me validate the skills and capabilities I had taught myself however the later modules are really helping me step into advanced coding with Python and how these can be deployed in my day to day work to enhance the ways of working and mature the service we provide. I am looking forward to continuing this learning and applying it to my role.

I am really enjoying the course I am on. The delivery method of learning something and then building a work based project to apply that knowledge really plays into my style of learning and helps be understand the benefit of the knowledge from the module. I have never been very academic and this worked based learning is a much better method for me and my career.

The course is very well structured in that you get given modules to work on to learn then knowledge which is then embedded in online workshops. There is then a third element in a work based project that allows you take apply everything you have learned into the context of what you do in your role. This is great for helping to embed the knowledge and gain the benefit in a fast paced way.

I have received the full support of the business and my line manager. I am giving a full day a week to focus solely on my studies and this has been fundamental in allowing me to meet the requirements of my modules. The business fully understand that this is a long term investment and that they will reap the benefits from giving me the time to enhance my skills.

I have a dedicated coach who has helped me throughout the duration on the course so far. The regular workshops are really engaging and allow us to meet virtually with fellow apprentices on the course and work collectively on the tasks. The whole setup is very modern and the tools the provide are both accessible and open source which removes any barriers to learning.

I am already seeing the benefits of my course, in particular the more advanced modules like python, and how they can help with data transformation and more advanced statistical modelling. Whilst I am just beginning this journey, I can already start to see what areas of my role this can be applied in to enhance existing ways of working.

We have a wide range of social activities at Balfour Beatty. The company provides a social fund which allows all employees to suggest a social activity and they will provide funding towards it. There are social events available almost every week.

Yes

Balfour Beatty is one of the oldest companies in the UK with an excellent culture who deliver genuinely amazing projects. We have a rich history and a bright future which provide excellent career opportunities. There is also a real focus on early careers and developing our own talent for the future needs of the business.

Dont be put off by the size and scale of the organisation. There are well established processes and procedures in place with great local cultures in the various offices and sites.