Senior Development Officer Review
at Southampton City Council
Degree Apprenticeship
Business Management, Government
Southampton
Review Submitted: April 2026
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
My role involves managing a small staff team who are delivering employment support projects. This includes people and project management.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
My degree apprenticeship is very enjoyable and has given me lots of new skills, knowledge and theories to apply in the workplace.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Lots of new skills, including project management, finance, academic writing and developing talent.
I have been able to develop lots of my existing skills including communication, organisation and resilience.
I have been able to develop lots of my existing skills including communication, organisation and resilience.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Very well structured with a clear timetable and support in place from the university.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Lots of support, including coaching and mentoring and 20% off the job time to complete my degree.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
Lots of support, including academic skills sessions, monthly coaching sessions and regular reviews with the provider and my manager.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
I have learned lots of new theories that I have been able to apply to my day to day work, which has improved my confidence and abilities as a manager.
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
Me and my fellow learners have a WhatsApp group that we use to stay in touch and support each other.
As a team, we have regular social events and away days for training and team building. We are encouraged to network and develop our skills.
As a team, we have regular social events and away days for training and team building. We are encouraged to network and develop our skills.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Southampton City Council to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Southampton City Council is an extremely supportive employer that develops talent and has excellent progression opportunities. Everyone is motivated to succeed and do the best for the city's residents and work is very rewarding when you can see the difference you're making to people's lives every day. There are great employee benefits and managers are always keen to invest in training and development and apprenticeships for staff to upskill.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Southampton City Council?
Make sure you provide lots of examples that are relevant to the job description. Do some research into what the council is doing and don't be afraid to contact the hiring manager to have a discussion about the role.
