Digital Apprentice Review
at AJ Bell
Degree Apprenticeship
Finance
Manchester
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.6 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
My degree apprenticeship with AJ Bell consists of rotations around the various teams within our technology services department. Day to day, you work as an active member of each team, be it Data & MI, InfoSec or a development role in supporting their contribution to business operations.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy it alot!
My colleagues - the other Digital Apprentices and members of the teams I join are all supportive, approachable and knowledgeable
My colleagues - the other Digital Apprentices and members of the teams I join are all supportive, approachable and knowledgeable
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
In 9 months:
1. Mobile app QA analysis - checking developer implementations meet acceptance criteria
2. Using automation tools to create and deploy UI tests
3. SQL - learning to use this language to retrieve data for the business
4. PowerBI - for displaying data in a useful, meaningful way for analysis purposes
1. Mobile app QA analysis - checking developer implementations meet acceptance criteria
2. Using automation tools to create and deploy UI tests
3. SQL - learning to use this language to retrieve data for the business
4. PowerBI - for displaying data in a useful, meaningful way for analysis purposes
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Split well
4 days working
1 day dedicated for university studies
4 days working
1 day dedicated for university studies
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Dedicated mentor, from the cohort a year ahead of me, as well a Learning and Development department that can assist with any queries to do with the apprenticeship
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
University lecturers are easy to contact via MS Teams when completing coursework or assignments.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
There’s the opportunity to choose a pathway to specialise in.
In my case - Data and analytics was my pathway, meaning it is relevant to the team I will be working with on a more permanent basis
In my case - Data and analytics was my pathway, meaning it is relevant to the team I will be working with on a more permanent basis
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Yes, there are a variety of little events that have been online during the pandemic - one recently was a cocktails themed event where a professional bartender was on a Zoom call, with staff following along with their personal cocktail kits.
At the moment I take part in the weekly football.
At the moment I take part in the weekly football.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AJ Bell to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It’s a friendly environment with supportive people there to help you where needed.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AJ Bell?
Be yourself, make sure to bring your confidence and something about you that makes you stand out
