Advanced apprentice Review

Application support for a number of different legacy apps.

I have been able to gain several MTA qualifications and on the job training.

I am really enjoying learning all these new skills but I would like to spend time learning how to become a developer - that's what my course is supposed to be about but its not a large part of it.

I feel like a valued member of the team, the welcome and support I've gotten over the past year have made it a great place to work.

The qualifications I am working for are facilitated by OCR. Although I appreciate that they may be designed for use in several different types of ICT apprenticeship, they are not relevant enough to software development to be of real use. When I first started my apprenticeship I attended a "boot camp" which involved learning some c# but since then there hasn't been anything like that again. The trainers and assessors are mostly good and very helpful but the training sessions themselves could do with improvement - often the teachers get side tracked discussing irrelevant things (although I must admit usually IT related). Its nearly a 4hr round trip for me to attend these so it is really disappointing when I attend and learn nothing.

All the tutors and staff involved are great, will answer any question and always try to help you if you need it.

This has been excellent. I have time during the day to complete coursework, and have support from other colleagues who have completed the apprenticeship program. The college has now started a foundation degree course in software development through a similar scheme to what I am now on and when I expressed a desire to attend this my manager was extremely supportive and encouraging.

The starting salary was quite low, but I received a increase at the end of my first year which has helped. I think it could be increased again considering the work I do. I also get my expenses for travelling to college - if I didn't receive these I would have considerable trouble covering my living costs.

Yes, I am becoming a STEM ambassador and have been invited to take part in a STEM event for women hosted by the college. I will be running a code club workshop for primary school children and am able to take time out from work to do this. Fujitsu have a great relationship with a nearby college so I will be a mentor for a young person who is training in IT. Fujitsu also have great volunteering opportunities that everyone can take part in.

Yes

Its a great place to work, especially where I live as there are not many job opportunities. I really feel that I can grow with this company and that there are great chances for promotion.

If you see a job opening and you maybe don't fit all the criteria just apply anyway - you can learn a lot on the job. An employer would rather have a hard worker who is willing to learn and adapt than someone with all the right qualifications but no drive. If you get the job take advantage of all the training and support you can get! put your hand up for everything, it doesn't matter if you don't think its something you'd normally be interested in, just try it, you never know, it might be something you could draw on in an interview down the line or it might turn out that that's exactly what you want to do and you take your career down that line you never even considered.