Data Analyst Degree Apprentice Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Data Analysis
Barrow-in-Furness
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
4.1 /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
3.8/5
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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
Varies per placement - current placement involves gathering data, cleansing & restricting it, completing further analysis/deep dives into what story the data is telling and producing graphs & reports to illustrate this to senior management - often completing work for the Director of the function and the Director of our sector of the business, so my work has high impact and is very often used in much higher up reporting/meetings/discussions.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I would recommend the degree apprenticeship to anyone who is contemplating entering the world of data - a couple of years ago I would never have imagined myself in a data/IT-driven role, but after the initial period of learning and trying new things it has really become second nature to me and I really enjoy my job. Would also recommend to people who are contemplating going to university or aren't sure - degree apprenticeships wive you all of the benefits of going to uni but you also earn money, learn more in-depth when combining work and studies and gain massively valuable experience in the field - which university courses on their own don't necessarily provide to students.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Data analysis skills, teamwork, communication, confidence, trust in my own abilities and strengths, adaptability and flexibility, time management.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Quite well organised and well structured, especially considering my degree apprenticeship is fairly new to the company/within my sector - there are occasional hiccups and bumps along the way but these are expected and are usually resolved quickly and appropriately. Things constantly change as we evolve and new placements appear throughout the business, so it would be very difficult to be completely organised in our constantly evolving data landscape.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Lots of support is given, from line managers in placements giving flexibility and freedom to try new things and experience different areas (without necessarily having any knowledge or experience in them beforehand), there is support from the early careers team to align placements to your interests/skills gaps or even help with organising extra work outside of placements to help quickly cover certain areas and competencies for the apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
There is support from university skills coaches to check in and regularly review progress and any barriers in your studies, helping to raise any concerns to the right people within the university. Lecturers are usually available for any questions or to go more in-depth into a topic of interest, but because we study remotely this can be difficult as you're not working in the same areas to have drop-ins where needed and we also work full-time and study part-time, meaning that scheduling can sometimes be a bit of a challenge.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Gives lots of background knowledge/skills and develops behaviours that are valuable in the workplace. Sometimes you learn things in work first and then study at uni later on, other times you study first and then can put things into practice at work and develop your learning further when you apply it in a real work setting. Some content is slightly irrelevant if you specialise into your roles straight away, for instance I learn about software development as a data analyst, which isn't fully relevant to my role but gives enough basic knowledge that can be used as and when needed in the workplace if these topics crop up.
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
There are groups formed by apprentices, some apprentices create their own sports teams as a group and play 5-a-side every week, there are opportunities to go to conferences and networking events in the sector for both the industry and for apprentices. Some teams go out for team lunches on a semi-regular ad-hoc basis which is nice to socialise outside of a working space.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Very inclusive and understanding employer, pays well and offers many different opportunities depending on what you would like to explore. Friendly staff and good environment to work in, the offices I've worked in within the company are friendly and positive, unlike previous workplaces. People in the company want you to succeed and will help you to push yourself to achieve at whatever level you want to go for.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Be patient with the application process, it can take a while but it's definitely worth it! Go into work/different placements with an open mind and be willing to learn and listen to those around you for guidance and support.
