Celebrating apprenticeship employer partnership with Bentley Motors

My name is Holly Dykes, and I'm a Data Scientist Apprentice at Bentley Motors, partnered with Keele University. In a typical week, I spend about half of my time working on independent projects, involving data cleaning, data preparation, and data visualization. The rest of my time is dedicated to project sprints with stakeholders and business owners to discuss project scope and progress.

At the end of each day, I also allocate an hour or two for my asynchronous and online university lectures. I chose to pursue an apprenticeship because I find it extremely valuable in gaining on-the-job experience. It helps me assess if I enjoy the job and allows me to apply what I learn at university in a practical setting.

Through my work, I can demonstrate the value of using more complex data visualizations to unveil deeper layers within the data. Being a woman in tech in the automotive industry is inspiring, as it breaks stereotypes and shows that there are various roles beyond manufacturing.

Bentley has been incredibly supportive, with flexible managers who understand coursework deadlines. Keele has also provided strong support through a dedicated work-based learning officer, available to address concerns. Our managers maintain communication with the work-based learning officers, ensuring a seamless experience.

I wholeheartedly recommend an apprenticeship. Aside from the benefit of having no tuition fees, you gain valuable work experience, make connections, and learn more about yourself.