Software Developer Review
at NatWest Group
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Edinburgh
Review Submitted: February 2023
Overall Rating
5 /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
5/5
-
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
On a day to day basis I would start the day with a team call where we discuss any updates and or blockers that we are facing. I then use visual studio code to create and edit code for the front end part of the website or more commonly known as the UI.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I would say that the programme overall has been a pretty fun experience and I really enjoy the aspect of working from home as this provides me with a lot more freedom and more free time in general due to less time spent travelling to and from work. I am always learning new things everyday which is also a great thing about the programme.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Before joining the apprenticeship[ I had no prior knowledge involving coding. In the past year I have learned a variety of different skills such as HTML, CSS and React JS as well as some other technical skills. I have also gained a lot of confidence in terms of speaking and reaching out to others.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is very well structured as I knew what my classes were and when they were right at the start of my apprenticeship. The classes themselves are very well organised as the teachers show you what the plan is for the whole week in advance so you know what to expect.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I can receive help with things I am stuck on whenever I need it as my employer is very supportive and is always happy to help. My line manger is also very supportive and has helped me with a lot of problems and query's I have had throughout my apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
During the week of classes I have done, the teacher was always there to help and would gladly answer any questions I had. If I ever faced any technical problems such as my microphone not working they would always be very supportive of this as well. If there were any other problems I was facing with the apprenticeship I could always send my learning provider an email and they would always be happy to help too.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
As for my training that I completed, there was only 1 week out of the 4 that actually benefited my day to day role which was the HTML classes. The other 3 weeks were on PHP and Databases which I do not typically use in my day to day role. The HTML classes were very helpful and I learned a lot from it.
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
There has been a lot of social events at my work since I joined and I have only been here for just over a year. There is also a gym in the building which workers are free to use on their break as well as a football pitch being available too.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend NatWest Group to a friend?
Yes
Why?
NatWest has a very inclusive environment and there are a lot of benefits to working here such as the pension scheme. There are always going to be people that are happy to help you if you are ever stuck and it is just overall a great place to work at.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NatWest Group?
My advice would be to just be yourself and show NatWest that you are the right person for the role and how much enthusiasm you will bring to the team. I would also say to not be worried about not fitting in or having "imposter syndrome" as there is no need to feel this way at NatWest.
