Software Developer Review
at Balfour Beatty
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
Sheffield
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
5 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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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:
5/5
I usually work on our digital display application, 'Arch', where users can display various widgets on a display.
I create new widgets and update existing widgets based on user requirements.
I create new widgets and update existing widgets based on user requirements.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I've been enjoying it a lot. I think it's the best way to learn: having hands-on experience but also attending online lectures with other learners who might be using other coding languages and working on completely different applications.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I've learned a lot about coding languages that I didn't have experience with prior to starting the course. I've also learned more about the software development lifecycle, different testing methodologies, and Agile workflows.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
It's very well structured. It's been clear what I need to do at each stage and what deadlines I need to complete my work by.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My line manager has been very supportive; giving me time to complete my coursework and helping me to better understand new concepts in the workplace.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
My digital learning consultant at QA has supported me along the way, answering any questions that I have and providing clear instructions on how to achieve my goals.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My qualification has helped me a lot when it comes to understanding the context of certain parts of my workplace applications. I now have a much better understanding of the various parts of the IT department as a whole.
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 networking events. These have helped my confidence a lot since I was completely new to IT before starting my apprenticeship and I didn't know what to expect. I now feel much more comfortable.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Balfour Beatty to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's been a very welcoming place to work; the people are nice, I'm able to work flexibly from home, and I feel comfortable in the office environment. Considering I had no experience in an office environment, or in IT, I was initially very nervous but now I'm much more confident in my role.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Balfour Beatty?
Attend the networking events, talk to other people outside of your department, and don't be afraid to raise any suggestions, they are very much open to change and improve.
