Financial Solutions Apprentice Review
at Softcat
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Finance
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.8/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
- Doing credit checks for businesses and then providing them with a finance quote that matches the type of solution they would like.
- Emailing account managers to tell them about promotions that are going on
- Emailing funders to ask about status and to ask about the background processes.
- Emailing account managers to tell them about promotions that are going on
- Emailing funders to ask about status and to ask about the background processes.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
- There are a lot of new skills required and jobs that I wouldn't have come across if I hadn't got this job.
- There will always be people who I know I can go in order to get help for anything.
- Some people I have known form previous encounters which makes it that much better because now we have something else in common.
- There will always be people who I know I can go in order to get help for anything.
- Some people I have known form previous encounters which makes it that much better because now we have something else in common.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
- I have learnt how to manage my time slightly better.
- Improved communication skills
- Improved social skills and language
- Learnt skills required to do my job role effectively
- Improved communication skills
- Improved social skills and language
- Learnt skills required to do my job role effectively
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
- From what I've gathered so far, the programme seems to be structured very well. Its simple enough to understand and we know who to go in case there are things we need further explanation on.
- The right people are educated well on the subjects, so we can ask them anything.
- Everything we need is easily accessible and we have plenty of time to do it.
- The right people are educated well on the subjects, so we can ask them anything.
- Everything we need is easily accessible and we have plenty of time to do it.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I will receive support even if I don't ask for it which is something that makes Softcat stand out in my opinion. I will still be provided with ample support when I ask for it or need it and it will always help me further my understanding into the issue I asked about.
There will be questionnaires that get sent around (like this one) so that we can rate how we feel about the employer or the apprenticeship in general.
There will be questionnaires that get sent around (like this one) so that we can rate how we feel about the employer or the apprenticeship in general.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
Again, I receive ample support and I know that I can ask then anything about the work I am doing. There is only 1 person who we go to for our qualification work which makes it that much easier.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Certain things that we learn about in our qualification will help me in my job role, such as communication. But some of the other topic we come across, are about businesses in general and different sectors, which I don't feel affects my job too much.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Yes there are multiple hobbies that you may join and be apart of.
I am apart of: the gaming discord, photography and film club. Hopefully looking to join some more in the near future.
I am apart of: the gaming discord, photography and film club. Hopefully looking to join some more in the near future.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Softcat to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The Softcat ambience and aura is nothing like any other company I've heard of. Whenever I speak to my family and friends about it, and mention the fun things that we do on a weekly and sometimes, daily basis, they always say that their companies never do anything like this.
Softcat really cares about the fun aspect which is one of it's 4 core values and want to make sure everyone enjoys working here. The relationships we all have with each other is more than just on a professional level which is something that I never thought would exist in my first job.
Softcat really cares about the fun aspect which is one of it's 4 core values and want to make sure everyone enjoys working here. The relationships we all have with each other is more than just on a professional level which is something that I never thought would exist in my first job.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Softcat?
- Learn about the company culture. (This is extremely important in Softcat)
- Network - talk to people outside of your role and in different sectors. Expand your contacts
- Open up if a new opportunity arises - the smallest opportunity could make the biggest difference to your career.
- Set yourself some early goals or targets. It will keep you motivated.
- Speak up early on. Get yourself heard so others know you want to be here.
- And finally, chances are, you will not have done what you have signed up for before. Nobody starts off as an expert. Don't be afraid to ask questions! And lots of them! The team you will be going into will (hopefully) will know exactly what they are doing and so you should ask about everything you aren't sure about. If you don't ask you won't get.
- Network - talk to people outside of your role and in different sectors. Expand your contacts
- Open up if a new opportunity arises - the smallest opportunity could make the biggest difference to your career.
- Set yourself some early goals or targets. It will keep you motivated.
- Speak up early on. Get yourself heard so others know you want to be here.
- And finally, chances are, you will not have done what you have signed up for before. Nobody starts off as an expert. Don't be afraid to ask questions! And lots of them! The team you will be going into will (hopefully) will know exactly what they are doing and so you should ask about everything you aren't sure about. If you don't ask you won't get.
