Apprentice Software Technician Review
at Arm
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
Manchester
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.7 /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
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
Day-to-day, I will generally work on my own or pairing with a colleague to develop software, I triage and respond to help requests in collaboration with my team, and I attend meetings to discuss potential features and priorities.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
My programme is very cool – it’s incredibly technical, which gives me plenty of opportunity to learn. I spend my days with knowledgable and friendly people, and I love the environment I work in. It's a fantastic culture and a great opportunity to study alongside working.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I’ve developed my communication skills further and have learned Python. I’m learning about the software development process, and also learning more about microchip hardware all the time.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
I have support from a mentor in my team, and a learning mentor from the training provider. I have self-directed study and regular classroom learning which balances out very well. My work priorities are decided alongside my team and my manager, and these support my learning.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My employer has been very supportive – from giving me time to complete work and training, to providing me with people to support my learning and development. They’re very receptive to my feedback or requests, and have been highly flexible around my work/life balance.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My provider gives me online resources, and regular check-ins, including extra support calls for my dyslexia. The self-directed learning I can complete at my own pace, and the classroom sessions cement that learning while allowing me to meet other apprentices.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The qualification curriculum is directly applicable to my role - software development fundamentals, Python, database fundamentals, and cyber security - so I can apply concepts and practices in my job as soon as I learn them. It provides a solid bedrock to build upon in my everyday 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
There are a LOT of extra-curricular activities, and I am still finding new ones every week. From the musical (ukulele club, choir) to the physical (hiking trips, football and running clubs), to weekly breakfasts where I can meet colleagues from around the building. There are also conferences, trips to the local ice cream parlour... anything you can think of.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Arm to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's a fantastic culture made up of very welcoming, knowledgable people. The work is interesting, my colleagues are enthusiastic and great at explaining technical concepts to me, and we do a lot of socialising here too. I can't imagine anything better than having more of my friends here.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Arm?
Be yourself, and let your enthusiasm shine through. Apprenticeships are about learning, so the thing employers are looking for is you. Talk (or write) about what motivates you, and what gets you excited. What's so good about the role they're offering that makes you want to do it?
