NEDA Apprentice Review

At the moment we are on placement so our day to day is much like a normal everyday job, we are set jobs or tasks to do by our managers which coincide with the work the team we are in completes, and are expected to complete the tasks to the best of our ability learning as we go along.

I feel as though I have developed a number of skills such specifically computer or technology skills such as being able to use software's such as Microsoft Visio and Microsoft Projects neither of which I was previously familiar with. Also especially due to the current state of the world, my communication skills have drastically improved due to the remote learning and working.

To be honest I thoroughly enjoy the programme more now as I enjoy learning new things and knowing aa much as i can about an organisation. So what we are doing now in the sense of moving from department to department really allows me to get a bigger feel for the company as a whole.

As I am now in my second year of the scheme the organisation and structure has greatly improved. Now we are given our placement and left there for the allotted time, the college blocks are told to us in advance and the organisation of those is the same. Making it easy for us on a month to month basis.

I feel as though we receive a lot of support, we each have a manager on each of our placements, then we have a career manager who deals with our daily needs, as well as us being able to contact our programme coordinator is we so require. Then further as a whole the company has many different outreach programmes which you cn contact for a number of different issues.

A relative amount of support. Understandably it is more difficult during the pandemic to have contact with each of us when the whole thing is remote, but they have handled it well and have improved from the beginning of the pandemic to now. We are able to contact our tutors if we need its just a matter on how qucik and how well they respond that varies.

As of now I wouldn't overly say that what I learn in college has helped me in the placements. Maybe it has in the sense that I am more attuned to technical jargon relating to the profession, but the work we have been taught hasn't specifically helped me as of yet.

To be honest I personally haven't really looked into any so I'm not entirely sure what is out there - but I do know people who had joined a rugby club this has since been postponed. And I know there are different networks for different things such as a BAME network who have meetings every so often.

Yes

I feel as though its a good place to work, any employees I have crossed paths with have been both friendly and helpful towards me, encouraging me to do more and work better and explaining how I can do both of them. It is a very inclusive place to work - I feel heard even with my lack of knowledge and experience.

Be confident in you application and make sure you research the company before doing so. There is an interview assessment day where you are assessed individually and as part of a team. Onboarding wise it is important for you to out yourself out there and connect to as many people as possible.