Software Engineer Apprentice Review

We start off the morning with a quick stand-up, where the team members share what they will be working on for the day and bring up any blockers that need to be resolved as a team. Then, we spend the day working on functionaility or feature changes and joining planning calls with the team.

Joining as someone with limited experience in technology meant that I have learned so much since starting this job. I learned to work with multiple different coding languages such as java, javascript and typescript. I have got to learn new ways of working and improved in collaboration and problem solving skills.

I really love this programme. I think it is an excellent opportunity for school leavers or those looking for a change in career as you will be taught all the basics before starting in your team. There is continuous support available within the team. It is also a great way for you to earn a degree while having on the job experience. In addition, you get all the perks of being a full time employee and a student.

The programme was relatively well organised as we had basic training for the first few weeks before joining the team. However, during the first year we faced some difficulties with unexpected workload from the training providers, but this was quickly mitigated as Lloyds was very proactive in creating an improvement to make life easier for apprentices. The teams are generally well structured, but there can be more thought into the kind of tasks a new apprentice can complete and can be improved by educating colleagues about apprentices as well as encouraging team members to pair up with apprentices when completing tasks.

When I first joined, I was given a mentor and a buddy. The mentor is someone with experience working in the same role as you and provides any technical support or guidance when requried. The buddy is someone that has been with the company and provides good moral support for the first few months of joining to ease the apprentice into their new role. In addition, your line manager and team leads will guide you through any tasks you need to complete as well as finding suitable things to work on.

The support I recieved from my training provider varies year to year as you will be completing a whole range of modules and most of the time there are new lecturers each time. In general, there is a programme lead and an intermediary between Lloyds and the uni. They provide a good amount of support with all the learning materials and tutoring if required. They address any issues or feedback from the apprentices and attempt to improve practises.

I find that the qualification provides more context and theory to fill in the blanks in your knowledge but it is not necessarily relevant to the day to day tasks I have in my role at Lloyds. However, I know that in the long run it will help me get better at my role because I will have a much deeper understanding of all the methods and practises in software engineering.

Yes, there are many opportunites. There are team socials each quarter filled with a range of activities. There are charity balls for the colleagues and a range of networking opportunites especially with women ConnecTech. There are often fundraising events in the office which colleagues can partake in if they wish.

Yes

Lloyds is a great place to work. You will work with helpful and collaborative individuals. There is always a push to improve things and feedback is very much appreciated. There are many opportunities to learn new things and progress into further career goals. You will be treated with value and benefit from all the perks and compensation.

Be your authentic self. Try to be engaging and a team player. When being interviewed, express what interests you about the specific job role you are applying for. Your passion for the role should shine through. Research the values and goals Lloyds holds, so you can ensure that it aligns with yours.