2022 Degree Apprenticeship - Chief Digital and Information Office Review

My day to day role involves monitering and investigating application issues, utilising Linux and SQL to find and solve problems. I am part of a team which is responsible for a partcular suite of applications. I also deal with pushing updates from development stage into production, dealing with all steps in between.

I have learnt how to use Linux and UNIX to search through application logs. This was a skill which I did not have before. I also enhanced my SQL skills, being able to confidently use and search through databases. I have also learnt how applications are updates and the steps involved with this

I would say I really enjoy the program so far. I have met many amazing people during my short time here, from the cohort of apprentices who joined alongside me, to the other team members and people you meet along the way. Everybody is very helpful and willing to help. As for the work itself, it is a challenge and a big learning curve but a good experience, learning new things and working in a professional environment

The program has a good structure, with there being 20% off the job time to work on the university assignments and coursework. However, there are some improvements which could be made, as for the most part its not a guarantee that you will be given the opportunity to rotate between teams

I receive amazing support from the employer. I am able to contact and speak to my manager regularly about all aspects of my work life. I also have the support from the lovely people in HR. The apprenticeship team are great at answering any questions and taking on board feedback to improve the experience

From the training provider, this is a large amount of support. They recognise that these programs are very difficult with time management. The lecturers are always available to contact for any questions on assignments and coursework. We are also assigned a uni mentor who is a point of contact for any advise.

The qualification is a BSC and provides core knowledge which helps me develop the basic skills needed, such as python programming, SQL, maths etc. The role itself allows me to learn how this knowledge can be applied in the business, in order to solve the problems in a more practical sense

There are always networking events being held. Some of them are apprentice specific, allowing you to meet the upper year apprentices and find out about their experiences. Other are department specific to network with people across the department, and hear experiences from some people in more senior positions across the firm

Yes

UBS is a great place to work. For myself in tech, they work on the latest technology solutions, such as cloud computing, AI, automation etc. This is a great way to be exposed to these kinds of changes. In addition, the work environment is a very supportive one, for someone like myself who came straight from 6th form

A few tips I would give, are research the firm fully before applying, to make sure you know they are the right fit for you. Also consider which department you want to join, as UBS offers positions in many departments with people doing a plethora of things, so ensure you know what you want to get out of your time