Level 6 Data Analyst Degree Apprentice Review

My key responsibilities in my day-to-day role is evolving and maintaining an industry-standard business intelligence data model for a major cloud migration programme at Vodafone. Ensuring best practices are in line with Telemanagement Forum Shared Information Data (SID) model.

I've learnt many new skills in this role such as data modelling, data governance, common asset management and programming in JSON, SQL and Python. I have also developed my soft skills for interacting with Local Markets and communication skills being part of a major programme with many different stakeholders and teams both internal and external involved.

I am really enjoying my programme. Entering into my fourth and final year now, I have loved studying and working in parallel as this has accelerated my personal development and equipped me to offboard into a full time role at the end of this year.

My degree modules take place across a 10 week structure with any exams and assignments due in the 9th and 10th week. This structure has worked well as I know key dates to aim for and enables me to plan around these dates with work and block out more time to dedicate to my assignment submissions or revision.

Since the very beginning of my programme my team have been very supportive and this has contributed to the reason I have consistently remained in the same team across the entire programme. During this time, I have had 3 line managers all of whom have allowed me to dedicate as much time as required to my degree apprenticeship, and have trusted me to complete my work independently and have given me lots of responsibility within my team. Whilst ensuring I am not taking on more work than I am able to balance alongside studying.

Most of my tutors across the duration of the degree apprenticeship have been very helpful and informative. They are often very responsive to any questions I might have outside of training workshops and it also helps that they run an additional weekly office hours session for assignment support.

The modules I have completed during my degree apprenticeship have complemented my role really well. Particularly modules around data science, AI & ML and data models that have tied in well with Google Cloud products my team utilise.

There are many Vodafone Youth events run for professional and social networking e.g. Rounders at Hyde Park, Food and Drinks socials in Newbury. This is really valuable as it allows you to connect with other apprentices, grads and interns who are the early stages of their career.

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Not only do they provide the opportunity to complete a degree apprenticeship whilst gaining on the job experience they are very supportive in doing so, which means you can thrive in the grades you achieve in your degree and be involved in lots of existing projects at work.

When preparing for your assessment centre brainstorm some creative and innovative ideas that you can showcase during your interviews and any presentations. When being onboarded into your team at the beginning of your apprenticeship make sure to sit down with your line manager and explain the goals and expectations of your degree apprenticeship. Always ask for more work and exposure to different tasks. You may feel like you are out of your depth but its good to challenge yourself, be enthusiastic, ask lots of questions and get the most out of the opportunity to complete you degree alongside building your on the job experience.