Reflecting back on your first year of your Degree Apprenticeship with Jaguar Land Rover and WMG - What is the most useful thing you have learnt?

I think by far the most useful skill I have learnt during the first year of the course is to program using Python; prior to the course, I had little to no coding experience, but through 7 taught sessions, each with accompanying challenges to complete, as well as a larger final project, I was able to pick up the fundamentals of coding. Not only was my project able to help my team at work, but I was able to apply the logic and thought processes I gained into learning new languages, such as Microsoft VBA. 

Was the course and Degree Apprenticeship what you expected? If not how/why?

 Prior to the course, I had some preconceived notions about apprenticeships, and how apprentices would be treated as newcomers within their company. However, I was glad to discover that, at least within JLR, everyone is respected as an equal, with something valuable to offer. I also thought that most of the working side of the course would be set in stone, but in reality there is a lot more freedom and independence in choosing what you want to get out of it. Talking to your manager to discuss potential projects and placements, and then organising these yourself by reaching out to the relevant people, is an excellent way to show your initiative, and will allow you to broaden your professional knowledge and skill base.

Covid-19 meant we had to switch to online learning pretty quickly – how was that experience? What was/is the best thing about online learning (if any)? Any tips? 

Online learning is something which a lot of people are able to use well, and given the circumstances, our modules were executed well in the online format. Personally, I find I learn much better in a face-to-face environment, particularly for new concepts, as I can very easily get distracted when studying at home, and I like being able to easily ask a lecturer for more help if I don’t understand. A piece of advice for this is to try to create a separate study environment, if you can, as this will reduce distractions by giving you a distinct “place of work” within your home. You should also reach out to lecturers after your sessions for help, as they are always happy to explain things further if you don’t understand. A positive though is the level of comfort you get at home, and without the commute to uni you have a lot of extra free time!

 

Briefly describe your role and the types of projects/work you have been involved in 

Within Jaguar Land Rover, I am based in manufacturing, more specifically within the end-of-line part of car production. My team specialises in the configuration and testing of vehicles as they come off the production line, so there is a lot of data we have to handle. As a Software Engineering and Data Analysis degree apprentice, I am involved in various tasks and projects aimed to help my team with their workflow; along with my two colleagues also on the DTS course, we create programs to process and analyse large amounts of data created during the testing phase. These have often involved us learning new skills specifically for each project, which then comes in handy down the line when similar issues arise. For example, learning how to code for Microsoft Excel using VBA.

What have you enjoyed the most about your studies? 

I really enjoy the mix of the university experience with that of a corporate lifestyle; I was fortunate to have a few close friends from home also coming to Warwick, so despite not living on campus, I was able to meet a lot of new people and enjoy the social aspects of uni life. I’d recommend really getting involved with societies and sports clubs early on, as this is another great way to meet lots of new people if you’re not going to be living on campus. Being able to combine this with a full-time job, which provides career progression, a regular routine, and a stable income (among many other things), has been a unique opportunity most people will not have had.

 

What skills/knowledge from the course are you applying to your role? 

Whilst there are a range of different modules on the DTS course, including Applied Mathematics, Business Management, and Networks, I’ve found I’ve mostly been applying my software and data-related knowledge and skills. Being able to confidently create code in Python, and then apply this skillset to other programming languages, has been of great use to me and my team, and will only become more valuable as we develop our learning.

 

What are your ambitions for the future? 

I haven’t given the future too much thought – I applied to this course because despite not knowing what I wanted to do, I knew it would put me in a really good position after graduation, with the degree, work experience, and skills gained. I try to keep my mind on the present, and make sure I’m doing my best right now – hopefully in a few years’ time I’ll have a better idea of what I want to do! It’s likely I might continue working for JLR, if they are able to offer full-time positions at the time our course ends, but with the qualifications we’ll gain, we really could go into any industry we wanted.

 

Why did you decide to do a degree apprenticeship? 

When it came to applying for university, I didn’t really know what I wanted to study, nor did I have any idea about my career path post-graduation. Following my UCAS application, I started looking for other options; I already knew about degree apprenticeships through some older friends and hearing about them at school, and to me it seemed like the best of both worlds – I would get to earn money as I worked full-time, whilst also studying towards a full bachelor’s degree. Plus, the networking and industry connections, as well as on-the-job work experience, would put me in a really good position once I graduated.

 

What’s the best piece of advice you could give someone thinking about doing a degree apprenticeship?

 

Whilst there is a considerable step-up from sixth form or college to university, in my eyes, it can be a bubble of sorts, depending on how you spend your time – in doing a degree apprenticeship, you will have to be more independent and responsible than your full-time student counterparts, as you have to balance studying for a degree with your career. You’ll have to be very organised, and be able to manage your time effectively, as well as most likely finding a place to rent prior to the start of the course, which are all things to consider before starting.

Find out more about our Digital Technology Solutions Programme or Degree Apprenticeships we offer.