Data Engineer Apprentice Review
at Volkswagen Group UK
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Data Analysis
Milton Keynes
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.6 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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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:
5/5
I work as a Data Engineering Apprentice at Volkswagen Group UK in Milton Keynes. Day-to-day I'm mostly writing and validating SQL across our ODS and CDW database layers — investigating data quality issues like duplicate consents, missing VLRs, and row count discrepancies. On the engineering side I'm migrating pipelines from SQL Server into AWS (Athena, Glue, S3) and writing PySpark transformations as part of our move to a medallion architecture. Alongside the actual work I'm logging OTJ hours on OneFile, working through apprenticeship micro-badges, and studying for AWS certifications — so it's a mix of hands-on technical work and apprenticeship admin most days.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I genuinely enjoy my apprenticeship programme. The hands-on work at VW gives me real enterprise-level exposure — working with live production data, building AWS pipelines, and solving actual data quality problems rather than just doing textbook exercises. I find the technical side interesting, especially as the work has shifted more toward AWS and Python. That said, the apprenticeship admin side — OneFile, portfolio entries, micro-badges — can feel like it gets in the way of the actual work at times. Overall though, I know how valuable the experience is and I'm aware that the domain knowledge and enterprise stack I'm building at 22 puts me well ahead of where most people are at this stage.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
efinitely. When I started, the bulk of my work was SQL-focused — querying, validating data, building KPI logic across VW's CRM data. I've developed that significantly, getting much more comfortable with complex query optimisation, CTEs, and understanding the data at a deep level across multiple database layers. On top of that I've picked up real AWS experience — working with S3, Athena, Glue, and PySpark as part of our migration from the legacy CDW architecture to a modern medallion setup on AWS. Python has also grown as a skill, from scripting data quality checks to building things like a Google Places API integration for VW dealer data. Beyond the technical side, I've developed how I communicate findings to stakeholders, structure investigations, and document issues clearly — which is something I didn't really have coming in.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
It's going very well. My employer is really supportive and makes a conscious effort to ensure the work I'm doing day-to-day aligns with the programme requirements. They make sure the projects and tasks I'm assigned map to the knowledge and skills I need to develop as part of the qualification, which makes the whole experience feel joined up rather than like two separate things running alongside each other. It's a good balance between doing meaningful work at an enterprise level and ticking off what's needed for the apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from my employer. My manager is approachable and makes sure I have the time and space to work on apprenticeship requirements alongside my day-to-day responsibilities. The team at VW are experienced and I can lean on them when I come across something new or need guidance on how things work at an enterprise level. I'm also given dedicated time for off-the-job training — whether that's working through AWS certification material, completing micro-badges, or studying — rather than it being something I have to fit in around everything else. Overall I feel well supported and like my development is genuinely taken seriously rather than just being treated as a tick-box exercise.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
I receive good support from my training provider. My tutor checks in regularly and has been helpful in making sure my work is properly aligned to the apprenticeship standard — they've flagged things like when my day-to-day tasks weren't sitting squarely within data engineering and helped me course correct. When it comes to working toward the qualification, they're available to answer questions and give feedback on portfolio entries and evidence. It's not always the most seamless process given the nature of balancing work and study, but the support is there when I need it and my tutor genuinely takes an interest in making sure I'm progressing in the right direction.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I think it complements my role well. The theoretical grounding from the qualification — things like understanding data architecture principles, the legal and ethical aspects of working with data, and cloud concepts — gives me a framework that helps me make sense of what I'm doing in practice at VW. Studying for my AWS certification alongside real hands-on AWS work has been particularly useful because the two reinforce each other. That said, a lot of my day-to-day performance comes from learning on the job rather than directly from the qualification — the real growth happens when I'm in the weeds of an actual pipeline or investigating a data quality issue. But the qualification adds context and structure that makes me a more rounded engineer, and I can see how it'll carry more weight as I progress further into the programme.
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
Yes, there are quite a few opportunities outside of the day-to-day work. I've been involved in PADDLE, which is an inspiring programme that engages with universities and colleges, giving me the chance to connect with students and contribute to something beyond my immediate role. There are also cultural groups within the business which are great for meeting people across different parts of VW Group and being part of a more inclusive workplace community. On top of that there are volunteering opportunities which I've been able to get involved in. It's good that VW actively encourages participation in these kinds of activities — it makes the workplace feel like more than just a job and gives you a broader network and experience that you wouldn't get just sitting at your desk.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Volkswagen Group UK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I'd recommend VW to a friend without hesitation. The exposure you get is genuinely hard to match — you're working with enterprise-level data, real production systems, and a tech stack that's directly relevant to where the industry is heading. The support is there from day one, your development is taken seriously, and the work actually means something rather than just being busy work. On top of that the culture is good, there are plenty of ways to get involved beyond your role through things like PADDLE, cultural groups, and volunteering, so you're growing as a person not just as a professional. For anyone looking to build a serious career in data, it's a brilliant place to start.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Volkswagen Group UK?
The biggest piece of advice I'd give is just to be yourself. Don't try to be what you think they want to see — VW are looking for people with genuine curiosity and the right attitude, and that comes across far more authentically when you're not putting on a performance. Show enthusiasm for the industry and the role, be honest about what you know and what you're keen to learn, and don't be afraid to let your personality come through. The technical skills can be developed — and VW will help you do that — but your character and how you carry yourself is what's going to set you apart in the process.
