Apprentice Software Engineer Review
at Arm
Degree Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
Sheffield
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
2.6 /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!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
2.2/5
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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
I am a software developer in the company. Currently the apprenticeship works where each year I am rotated into a new department of the company, as such it's hard to give a full overview of the daily tasks involved. Currently I have worked on projects ranging from improving simulation infrastructure to testing new techniques in game engines.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
Somewhat. I'm glad to have been given the chance to work on so many interesting projects all at once so far. However, I've found the rotation system has ended up more disruptive more then anything. Currently I work in an office where I am the only person in my current department, and I feel a separation from the others that I sit next too, including fellow apprentices. If I had the ability to I could work from home throughout the entire week and nothing would change. I am currently in my second year and in many ways I wish I had the ability to stay in the same department the whole way through. Constantly switching departments and projects just feels like I'm always one step behind.
Personally I've found the coursework to be very disruptive to my actual workflow. There are times where I have had to completely remove myself from work for weeks on end just to finish course assignments, and I feel that has strained work relationships. Overall I enjoy my work that I get to do but not the programme itself.
Personally I've found the coursework to be very disruptive to my actual workflow. There are times where I have had to completely remove myself from work for weeks on end just to finish course assignments, and I feel that has strained work relationships. Overall I enjoy my work that I get to do but not the programme itself.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
Mostly I have massively developed my coding skills, self-management, and so on. Largely this is just from working and getting feedback from my co-workers.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Really it is structured just like any job except with the lectures blocking up two days worth of work. The actual work structure depends heavily on the department I am in, though is usually pretty good. As mentioned I've found that coursework has a tendency to suck up all of the oxygen in the room.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
Again that is dependent on the department itself. Work has been very forgiving in regards to when I need to excuse myself to complete coursework. Otherwise I don't feel like I have been given much in the way of support but I have also rarely asked.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
Very little.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
Not a lot, if at all. A lot of my actual training, in the things that help my perform my work duties, comes from work itself. The qualification itself often feels like a distraction from either more relevant learning or 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.)
2/5
There are many options though the majority of them appear to be circled around the Cambridge office, which are unavailable to me.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Arm to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Despite all of my issues it is still a lovely place to work. The people have always been nice and in comparison to the rest of the tech industry there is very little in the way of crunch.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Arm?
None that immediately come to mind that you wouldn't find elsewhere for other companies. Don't feel you need to be a wizz at everything. Especially as an apprentice there is well understood that you're learning.
