Degree Apprentice Review

Rotation depending - for my intake, we get to move into different teams/roles every 6 months. Later intakes can move into different teams throughout the entire business unit, but the opportunity for us to do that if we pushed for it is there. Most roles consist of the usual Microsoft office work making presentations, filling in spreadsheets, writing up business cases, order forms, and other commercial product documentation. More specific tasks might involve quoting for customers, designing solutions, or market analysis. The industry I work in is particularly interesting because we provide the connectivity to broadcasters and make TV happen. Simply put, without our contribution in the end-to-end chain, it wouldn't be possible. A lot of the work we get involved with does take a lot of responsibility and when you screw up, you will know when that TV programme doesn't air.

Over the past 2-3 years I have learned a vast amount of skills, half of which I wouldn't realise I've developed. Due to the nature of what we do which is rather complicated, I started barely being able to understand anything my colleagues were saying. The acronyms and terminology used completely went over my head, I had never studied business prior, my previous work experience was limited to working in a post office. But for me, whenever I have to present what I've learned back to other people in a simple way so that they understand it, only then do I realise how much I've actually learnt.

It has it's benefits and drawbacks. The fact I'm able to work in a great industry and get loads of valuable work experience AND get a degree on top of that, it's an absolute privilege. It can be frustrating when you work in a specific role, and you finally get to grips with what you're doing and feel like you're getting good at it, but then you move on. But on the other hand you would gain a ton more experience and knowledge on different areas of the business and not stuck doing the same role. For our degree, it roughly works out 1 week every 2 months we would go to University for a blocked out week of lectures. And then having an allocated study day every Friday.

The main problem I had was that I was essentially the guinea pig for apprentices in my larger team, who haven't hired apprentices for over 10 years and didn't really know how to handle/manage us (understandably). But over time more changes and steps are being taken such as having mentors and enough guidance from managers. Now I feel like we're in the right place to give new apprentices a really good apprenticeship start to finish. (fyi, this is specific to my area and doesn't apply to all of BT). For our degree, it roughly works out 1 week every 2 months we would go to University for a blocked out week of lectures. And then having an allocated study day every Friday.

Echoing what was mentioned above, changes and steps are being taken such as having mentors and enough guidance from managers. It is hard to stick a rating on this because I have changed managers quite frequently who are completely different. Some have been quite laid back, others at the office everyday but really helpful.

We receive a lot of support through our lecturers, older apprentices, apprentice coach, colleagues in my team. Basically, if I required support there are plenty of people to go to and help us out. Now we have mentors as well to guide us in the right direction, for example - suggesting events we could go to and what to look out for.

There's also a lot of tools we can use online. Such as we get exclusive research that BT has paid for to help our learning and understanding of the industry. We also get different training session and webinars that have been really useful, as well as training courses online. Some of which might not be very relevant or useful, but quite a few of them have been.

Hosting work experience and internal visits at BT Tower. Volunteering opportunities for charities such as children in need. Social activities such as pub quiz raising money, . and team building events. Many opportunities to visit other companies and tours of their sites/buildings within the industry and outside it as well.

Yes

It's a great scheme that not a lot of companies offer. In my opinion, degree apprenticeships are the best way to go because you simply wouldn't get the same knowledge or experience learning at a University full time. This way you get the best of both worlds, you just miss out on the university experience I suppose. If you are interested in technology and apprenticeships, BT is a great place to be.

Have a general idea of what kind of industry and or roles you might be interested in before applying. Obviously you won't know everything until you do it which is what it's for, but any work experience you can get prior will help because you're in this for 3-4 years. To make the best use out of your apprenticeship you want to do this before applying. With BT, research the company prior and the team you want to join as well as what our values and culture is like, and see if that's something you would be interested in.