Assistant Economist Review
at Government Economic Service
Degree Apprenticeship
Data Analysis
London
Review Submitted: April 2024
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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.4/5
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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
Data analysis on the supply side of the economy, using Excel, coding in R, and creating notes and presentations in Word and PowerPoint.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
Lots of social opportunities, with co-workers and other apprentices. Very worthwhile and fulfilling when projects you have directly worked on end up as policy, or taken as a serious precaution.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Learnt R from scratch and can now create animated graphics and complex merging code. Developed Excel skills greatly. Also learnt in depth on the UK's macroeconomic policies and current economic situation.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
HM Treasury handles the work side well, whilst the Uni of Kent handles theirs. It is very well organised although a slight oversight for us having exams due during budget week, but due to political uncertainty when creating the timetables it's unavoidable.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
A lot; the majority has come from work over the university, as your split is 80:20.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Uni of Kent give a good training course, and within the Treasury you can call upon experts in the field through team messages to get second opinions.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
It's a good knowledge bank to have of complex theory and statistical equations that I know where to find when I need to use them in work.
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 coffee rotas, lunchtime events, networking events, music concerts and groups (I have just joined a jazz band) and plenty of clubs - I've joined mostly languages and history groups so far.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Government Economic Service to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It almost feels like a no-brainer; you can earn, have a free education, not have to worry about debt, and gain a lot of valuable work experience which puts you ahead of your cohort by the end of it. Plus all the connections and general attitude to work.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Government Economic Service?
Make sure that economics and politics is something that does interest you, and you feel you can dig into what most matters. Everything else will fall into place naturally.
