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techUK continues celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with a feature on Abby Walker - an apprentice at Capgemini.

This week, techUK will be supporting National Apprenticeship Week with a number of featured apprentices from our member organisations and guest blogs.

Today, Abby Walker - data analyst apprentice at Capgemini shares her experiences. Abby is a degree apprentice completing a BSc in Digital & Technology Solutions with a software Engineering specialism.

Your role and the work you do

I work as a data analyst which involves working closely with clients to understand their business requirements and the problem at hand. I collate data from different sources (databases, text files, spreadsheets, social media content, etc) and transform it into a version which can then be analysed.

To gain insight into data, we use different tools, including Microsoft Excel, programming libraries such as Python and Scala, and business intelligence tools such as Tableau. Once we have this insight, we work together, often with project managers, to present the data in a meaningful way back to the client so then they can make the best business decisions based on the facts we have provided.

I also get involved with Capgemini’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and any apprentices related activities because it’s a great community to share knowledge and experiences with, especially as I know they are in the same position as myself. For example, I was part of the Capgemini Millionaire Makers team for The Prince’s Trust and we raised over £36,000 in a business challenge - something I’m very proud to have been part of.

What you have learnt through your apprenticeship

On top of all the technical skills and theory relating to my role (which has been developed through coursework, university and on the job), I have also learnt a huge range of transferable skills.

The main area I feel I have developed is the increased confidence I have and whilst I still get nervous during public speaking, I have been given the support and techniques to manage this and now feel credible to speak about my subject. I’ve also developed consulting skills and learnt the value of managing stakeholders and my time between personal life, work, studies and the travel between the three!

It has been eye opening shadowing and working with data scientists (hopefully this will be me in the next few years) and working with consultants - it has pushed my technical skills and I feel as if I’m in the position of being able to say “I want that job” and “I want those skills”.

For me, one of the main benefits of doing an apprenticeship is that when I’m learning theory through my university work I can relate a huge amount directly back to real life scenarios which I’ve experienced or seen and I know if I’d gone straight to university from finishing up my A Levels, I wouldn’t appreciate the value or importance of all the subjects I’m currently learning and be asking the golden question “why do I need to know this?”

Looking back to when I started 6 months ago, I would never have thought I’d be the person I am now before I was given this opportunity.

Future plans

I’m very open to what the future holds as long as it means more learning, progressing and excitement. I’d like to think I’d do a Masters after my degree and some travelling but career wise I’d definitely like to go down the avenue of a data scientist – because it’s fun and fast paced.

For more information on techUK's Skills & Talent Deveopment programme, get in touch with Doniya Soni:

{bio}doniya.soni@techuk.org{/bio}