Real Estate Degree Apprentice Review

My role currently is within the data team - I am doing a rotation to gain lots of experience and gain a better overview of our whole team by spending 6 months within each of the 4 smaller teams that make up our whole team. Tasks include attending/hosting/organising meetings, responding to queries about our portfolio data in our data systems, gathering information on our portfolio, making sure to keep our data up to date so our real estate team have up to date data.

My Apprenticeship has already given me so many opportunities to develop and improve. Since only starting 6 months ago I feel that I have learnt so many new skills and significantly improved on existing skills too. Some examples include: Confidence, Time-management, Communication, Significant improvement in my knowledge of Real Estate and AstraZeneca. I have enhanced my time management skills as it is so important within an apprenticeship to be able to balance university and your job role and stay on top of both. I feel so much more confident, I have taken over organising and hosting meetings which has meant I have had to talk in front of quite alot of people. Taking over meeting has also increased my responsibility within the team which I am really proud of only 6 months into my job role. I have learnt the importance of networking as this will help to create more opportunities for yourself and will help you understand how other people work and other people's job roles within the company.

My Apprenticeship has been incredible. I have learnt a significant amount of information in such a short period of time, taken on so many new responsibilities and got involved with the apprenticeship community. I feel that I am progressing and improving so much which I love as I feel like I am developing as a person and within my role.

My programme is really well organised. Within the whole team there is 4 smaller teams: Data, Real Estate, Workplace and Masterplanning. For the first 2 years In my Apprenticeship I am doing 6 month rotations in each of these areas which will enable me to have a good overview of the whole team and have a great understanding of the different areas and how they all link together. After the first 2 years, I then have the opportunity to select which team I would most prefer to go into.

I would say I receive a significant amount of support from my employer. AstraZeneca put on a "freshers" week when you first start which helps you to build connections, meet fellow apprentices and get you used to the systems and to help not overwhelm you when you first start. Upon starting at AstraZeneca I was given a "Buddy" which is someone who is a few years into there Apprenticeship who is there to support you and if you have any worries or concerns they are someone you are able to speak to. You are then given a line manager who has supported me so much since starting at AZ. She has been amazing and made me feel so welcome. This has helped so much starting my Apprenticeship.

I get alot of support for my qualification. I attend University once a week in Nottingham and I have the ability to meet my lecturers and ask questions if needed. I also have Progress review sessions that take place every 12 weeks to set goals, see how I am improving and ask any questions that I may have any concerns about.

My qualification helps me perform better in my role as I am able to use the information I learn at University and link this in with my day-to-day role, it helps give me much more information and background into the things that I am doing in work.

There is tons of extra-curricular activities available to get involved in. The Apprentice committee host social events every couple of weeks to meet fellow apprentices and get more involved. There is lots of groups that are run for people in there early careers, I have recently become the Social Rep for one of these groups. Lots of networking events are available whether that's within your team, apprentice events or external events that are put on offer. We have football teams, padel groups, netball teams, run clubs.

Yes

I think it is a great company to work for. There is tons of opportunities for growth within the company. It is a very welcoming community of people and there is tons of things where you can meet new people within the company and social areas that you can get involved with. I think being at AstraZeneca has significantly enhanced my personal and professional development. It has made me much more confident and I have taken on lots more responsibilities which I feel proud of.

I would say be yourself, be confident and be enthusiastic. Do your research about the company before applying so that you know whether it would be a suitable company for you and ask lots of questions. Make sure to link your past experiences in with why you would be great at AZ.