Software Developer Apprentice Review
at BT Group
Level 4/5 Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
Manchester
Review Submitted: August 2026
Overall Rating
1.1 /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!
1/5
-
Overview of Role
1/5
-
Skills Development
1.2/5
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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:
1/5
I didn’t really have a day to day role. This was the problem. My apprenticeship was completely thrown together and abided by a checklist from my training provider. No day was the same as I would move teams just to tick off a box for evidence. Didn’t really learn a lot as I never felt still.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
1/5
I didn’t enjoy the apprenticeship at all it was very stressful and at many times it felt as though my time was being wasted. I felt like I myself was structuring the apprenticeship and trying to figure it out all my own to the point I would sit there colouring in and drawing mind maps because I had nothing to do but wanted to make sure I was still learning.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
1/5
Not really as like I said I felt as though I was dragged through the weeds a little bit. I was never in 1 team I moved around a lot not like a degree apprenticeship where you rotate but more so I had to go into this team for 1 day just so I had evidence to tick off on my training providers checklist. There were the odd one or 2 individuals who were supportive but as a whole it was a nightmare and I don’t learn much.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
Very little support and structure throughout the apprenticeship I had to constantly ask for some work or whether I could explore somewhere else. The fact I had to ask was a big telling the whole process was a mess. It’s a shame really as it’s not always the case as I heard stories of other apprentices having a great experience. However they were put together where as I was on my own so at times I felt a bit forgotten. It really made me feel low at times just how unorganised the whole process was.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
1/5
During my apprenticeship my employer offered me little support. It felt as though the training provider had my back more than the company did. I was baffled at one stage as when BT gave me a work to do rating because I failed the Java exam 3 times. This Java exam was extremely difficult to the point we was told by the course provider you need at least 2 years experience in Java. When this apprenticeship didn’t need any experience to do it. We was also told that the Java exam was that hard even professionals failed sometimes at it. But the biggest problem I noticed was the fact that I wasn’t in a Java team in the business. Meaning I had very little hope of even passing this exam. So when I received this work to do rating I wasn’t pleased. As I didn’t believe it was fair. The employer did provide me 1hr with someone a week to learn but that is not sufficient at all or organised.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
My training provider was the saving grace in all of this without them I don’t think I would have got through most of it. They would speak to the employer on my behalf explaining what needs to change. Which again shouldn’t need to be the case. It should be that BT have already organised the apprenticeship.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
I did do the majority of the apprenticeship on my own. I pieced it together a lot of the time on my own. I had to as at times I really struggled to find evidence for my apprenticeship but that shouldn’t be the case in such a large business like BT.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
1/5
There’s a few you can do. But again I felt very lonely being the only apprenticeship.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BT Group to a friend?
No
Why?
I wouldn’t recommend an apprenticeship but I would recommend a.job. I don’t think BT really have a good understanding of apprenticeship from my experience anyway. They need to ensure no apprentice is on there own they need a buddy who’s on an apprenticeship too. Which there is for some but not for all. So based on my experience as an apprentice I wouldn’t recommend an apprenticeship at BT no.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BT Group?
If you are looking to apply for an apprenticeship at BT make sure you’re team you get put with is actually relevant to your training agenda. Ask lots of questions and show you are engaged. If you do feel your struggling ask for help you are an apprentice not a contractor so take it easy!
