Data Scientist Review
at Coventry Building Society
Degree Apprenticeship
Data Analysis
Coventry
Review Submitted: April 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
3.6/5
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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
On a day to day my role in data science involves understanding complex stakeholder problems and creating solutions with analytics and machine learning. This involves collating datasets from source and using python to draw out insights and analyse trends before moving into model development where there is a valuable use-case.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I've really enjoyed my apprenticeship - it's been a great mix of content that is directly relevant to my work and new ideas that I've been interested in but haven't had the opportunity to try before. The workshops have been engaging and the practicals are difficult but every satisfying to complete. Overall it has been very fun!
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I've massively developed my python skills over the past year. My package usage has improved and my code has become more streamlined and efficient. The apprenticeship has also filled in the gaps in my knowledge around model completeness and what steps need to be considered and completed in an end -to-end process to produce models that are reliable, consistent and well-tested.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The apprenticeship is very organised. We have live lectures most weeks, regular mentor support, reading clubs and other events. It is hosted through an easy to navigate online portal where I can find all the past work I've done, reading, assignments, and upcoming modules. This makes it easy to return to content when I need to apply it in practice.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I receive a day off every week from my employer in order to attend the live lectures and spend time completing the reading and assignments. I'm also able to apply what I've been learning directly into my work and my manager has been supportive in setting up my workload so it is compatible with my learning and end project requirements.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
I have catch ups every six weeks with a data science mentor provided through the apprenticeship who is able to give me technical support with my learning and project. I also have catch ups with my progress mentor who ensures I'm on track with my hours and general progress through the modules. There are also office hours for support every week.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
My apprenticeship has been focused on practical application of Python for different use cases which has been really useful in my role. Many of the techniques I've learnt have been directly applicable to my work and it has allowed me to develop a toolkit of different approach's for different use-cases that has made me mode confident in tackling new pieces of 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.)
3/5
My company offers lots of opportunities to get involved with colleagues and our local community such as team volunteering days, speed-connect between teams, networking events for women in tech and in-person workshops. They also encourage us to attend external events and conferences that we believe will help our development and we are able to easily feed back our learning through the company's engage pages.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Coventry Building Society to a friend?
Yes
Why?
There is a great attitude to learning and development at the society which encourages people to think about their development beyond the scope of their immediate role. This supportive environment has made it easy to meet people with similar professorial interests and helped me stay inspired to keep learning new things. As someone who wasn't certain about my career when I joined, the Coventry has been pivotal in helping me understand what I want for my future and given me the tools to get there.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Coventry Building Society?
Community is at the heart of the Coventry Building Society, it's a company that genuinely cares about it's members and colleagues, so the best advice I can give is to be curious, be passionate and above all just be yourself!
