Software Engineer Review
at Lloyds Banking Group
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Edinburgh
Review Submitted: May 2023
Overall Rating
3 /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!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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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:
3/5
The bit I like the most is writing/debugging code. I always work closely with my in work mentor and other colleagues and rarely do independent work. I attend planning meetings and scrum ceremonies regularly. Most of the work is understanding what needs to be done and how to do it, which is confusing at first but the more I get into it, the easier it's becoming.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
For the most part I'm enjoying the program, but the work is more engaging and I'm learning a lot. The content Firebrand have given me to learn from is outdated and a lot of it isn't relevant for my work which can be a bit frustrating. I learn best by doing, and almost all of the curriculum prescribed by Firebrand is watching videos, which makes learning pretty hard.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
I have learnt to read and write in Javascript, React.js, HTML5 and CSS3. I have also learnt a lot about Github, what it is and how it works - meaning pushing and pulling code. Learning how a repository is structured really helped me too. My personal skills have developed through working in large platform, and I'm gaining more confidence as a software engineer. LBG are keen to upskill you, and I'm due to do 2 additional courses over the next couple of months on accessible design and cloud training.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
Considering my cohort was on its third learning mentor within 4 months, I'd say not very. The course content and learning criteria changed midway through the programme and none of us got told, we found out by chance. There also seems to be a lack of communication between teams and the apprenticeship providers; a lot of the line managers seem to think that we're already capable coders when we join the team, but most of us are learning from scratch and still aren't that useful months into the job.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
LBG has been very supportive so far and I really enjoy working on my team. It can be a bit daunting reaching up and asking for help at first, but I'm coming to learn that everyone genuinely wants to help, and that no one minds taking time away from their normal job to bring you up to speed. The people who look after the apprentices are excellent too!
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
I receive a good amount of support but there doesn't seem to be a good amount of communication between the training provider and the apprentices. For my most recent training course, we were working towards an exam but none of the apprentices even knew what it was called. However, they do try to give us help when we ask for it.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
I feel like the qualifications are very basic level and that almost all of my improvement within my role is down to the support I've had from my colleagues and my personal efforts. The qualification has given me a good understanding of how software is developed and how agile work places function, but in terms of the coding experience, I have learnt a lot more on the job.
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
Occasionally, but they are working to improve on this. We have a team away day every couple of months and there is usually the option to go out afterwards. There are fairly regular tech-related events hosted in my workplace which I can attend, such as Reboot, which host talks, demonstrations and workshops.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Lloyds Banking Group to a friend?
Yes
Why?
On my programme, it's good money for not knowing what you're doing. So far my team has been flexible in terms of my working hours, and I get a lot of support with my course and my work. I enjoy being able to work from home a lot - although this is due to change come September so maybe ask me again then!
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Lloyds Banking Group?
Try to be confident at your interview, and don't be scared to admit a mistake - it shows you can self-reflect. Try to be comfortable reaching out to people, whether they're on your team or not. Everyone is happy to help. And tech-specific advise - I've found the engineering community to be the most communal workspace I've ever been in. Obviously there's competition, but there's a stronger 'no man left behind' culture which has blown my mind a bit.
