Solutions Designer Review

It involves project related tasks which require MCA related work that we maintain build/test in Colleague Servicing as part of FullServe. My responsibility is to impact assess and analyse the requests. Engage with different teams and help with any queries during the course of the project. I also help manage team of analysts across two locations, i.e. India and UK.

I've learnt a lot of new skills and perhaps it was quite challenging to study full time at the same time. I feel I am learning something new every day which is positive. Though my learning is remote and depends on people's availability. It has motivated me to continue learning.

I enjoy all of the lessons on the programme and the staff at ARU are very helpful and motivating. I really am enjoying studying with them and I recommend the staff/lecturers at ARU. I am enjoying the experience very much and am very grateful. I will continue learning after this as it demonstrated how things change everyday.

I find the staff/lecturers at ARU are very organised and professional. They are also very kind and understanding. They also set high expectations which is understandable and expected with a higher apprenticeship. It helps me grow that way. I think that we can do with more opportunities to meet face to face. Perhaps two weeks is a long time but perhaps more frequently for shorter period of time.

I find getting data and support to run my own primary research such as questionnaires very difficult. I have to network quite a lot and there is always a high level of concern why we use work related data for studies though this is a workbased degree and everyone is NDA. Though I do get the time I need for my studies, exams, and study blocks from my line manager and he is very understanding and supportive.

During the study blocks we get a lot of support from ARU but as you can imagine this is a distance learning so after the study blocks there is a huge dependency on us to do what we are expected to do which is normal as I said when you are a remote student. Most of the staff/lecturers are quick to answer to queries/calls/emails. Though some staff are better at this than others.

I think this qualification has really opened my mind on how an organisation works and what a manager's roles and responsibilities are. I honestly think there are some managers out there who can benefit from the same course because I don't think they understand their roles and responsibilities too well.

Some of the workplaces are better at this than others. I find we lack this in Spinningfields and to be honest I am too busy with study/work so no time for social activities even if there were any. It is also very reliant on staff to come up with these ideas and own them/organise them.

Yes

Because though it is a big company and still works with old ways of working and can do with modernizing. I do enjoy the opportunities such as this programme as I find personal development very important and very proud of Barclays to have been able to support me to finish this degree.

The work is not easy, you have to like challenges, you have to understand that there are a lot of old ways of working and new ideas do not get off the ground quickly. Therefore, if you are looking for an agile place this is not for you. However, if you are looking for a rewarding career with different opportunities and do not get frustrated when your ideas do not get followed then this is the company for you.