Digital Degree Apprentice Review

I currently work on Children's web, meaning I work on the CBeebies and CBBC website, among other things. I get to work in various languages, across all areas of the site. This includes Scala, Javascript, Ruby, Python, and of course HTML and CSS. I am not treated like the stereotypical intern (making coffees, printing things); my input is valued as much as my more experienced team members and we do the same work. A typical day is quite simple; we have a standup meeting at 10am to discuss what we're working on, organise picking up more work and discussing any issues that have arisen the previous day. We then get to working, either solo or paired on tasks. There are equal opportunities to work alone or pair with a more experienced developer, and it's nearly always possible to choose which of these I want to do. I have become the go-to person for certain areas of the site, meaning that anyone with questions about these topics will usually come straight to me. As an apprentice, I found that to be a really great measure of how much my skills have developed here.

I joined the Web team with absolutely no experience in web development. I picked it up very quickly, and after a year I am quite confident in my skills in web development, a huge difference to pre-BBC where I would struggle to create a plain HTML page. I have access to a huge range of external training courses, and all the ones I have applied for have been accepted. The courses I have been on were all extremely helpful, both for work and day-to-day life. In a single year, I have gone from "what does HTML stand for?" to being able to create a site alone.

I enjoy every day at the BBC, each day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn. My team are very friendly and likeable; with regular team lunches and nights out to get to know everyone better whilst having fun. Working at the BBC completely exceeded any expectation of what I thought work would be like. I don't have a single complaint from the whole year I've been here.

As mentioned in the first question, I am treated the same as any other employee. My input in meetings and discussions is valued the same as anyone else's, and we do the same work. There is never an occasion where being an apprentice prevents me from working on something. If anything difficult comes up, I may be paired with another developer to work together on an issue. However, this isn't an apprentice-specific "policy", it's the best way to solve issues and gain knowledge. Overall, I feel valued as an employee and enjoy being equally involved in projects as any other team member.

There are rare hiccups on the university's side, but that is expected since it's the second year running the course. There have been no issues that weren't minor and resolved quickly.

There is plenty of support available and the training provider reminds you of this often, so there is never any worry that there isn't support available. All tutors are happy to be contacted outside of university time and will reply in a very timely manner. There are people employed by the university who provide help with any issues you may have, whether university-related, work-related or even personal issues.

I receive as much support as I ask for. I have multiple catchups with various people around my team and the BBC in general. Due to this, I have all the support I could ever need and then some more. I have a line manager that I know I can discuss any work and non-work related issues with, and team leaders and managers that can resolve any work-based problems or issues with the team. I have been offered more support than I need and feel very comfortable sorting out any issues that could (but haven't, so far) crop up.

I have moved away from home and still have a good amount of money to travel and cover expenses. For my lack of experience and what I gain from this opportunity, I'm happy with it.

There are many internal social events that I have the opportunity to attend. I have been on a few voluntary events to discuss the apprenticeship to interested people. I did this in Manchester, Birmingham and London (twice), all costs covered. There are clubs within the BBC, such as running / yoga clubs that are open to anyone. There is a gym very close to the location which is very helpful for those who want to work on fitness during lunch break or before/after work.

Yes

The BBC is a great employer and you will get a lot of valuable experience in many areas, working on huge projects that are used by millions of people. I get to work on a website that brings entertainment and fun to millions of children across the U.K., an opportunity that I believe is quite rare and something to be proud of. They are also products that I grew up learning from, and now I help build them!

The interviews and assessments and much more relaxed than you would expect for such a large company. I am usually quite anxious in interview situations but the BBC was very friendly and had such a comfortable environment, there was nothing to be worried about. If you are successful, my number one piece of advice is to discuss your experience with your team leader ASAP. This helps everyone, as you'll be assigned tasks that will help you grow your skills but not be too difficult to complete.