While at college I knew that completing a conventional degree wasn’t something I was likely to pursue. But after being employed by Walnut Unlimited, they provided me with the opportunity to earn a degree while gaining business experience through the Degree Apprenticeship scheme. My time at the University of Winchester has been so valuable and the modules included in our course fit well with my day-to-day job role, allowing me to incorporate theory into practice. My colleagues at Walnut are incredibly supportive and encouraging which enables me to share what I’m learning and feel like an asset to my team and the wider company. I would definitely recommend anyone with an interest in learning while earning and getting exposure to how a business operates to look into Degree Apprenticeships because it is one of the best career decisions I have made.

I joined the Degree Apprentice scheme at Walnut and the University of Winchester in September 2016. I studied Digital and Technology Solutions: Data Analytics at the same time as working with Walnut’s Analytics team. Since joining Walnut, I have been given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and have developed a wide range of technical, business and project management skills that I can apply both in the workplace and to my university studies. I really enjoy working within the Analytics team as I can use the skills I have developed during my Apprenticeship to find hidden stories within data to help both my colleagues and clients better understand human attitudes, needs and behaviours. Having a full-time job whilst studying for a degree at the same time can be challenging at times, yet has been so rewarding as I am able to put the theoretical knowledge I have developed from university into practice in the workplace.

I joined the scheme in August 2017 and the main compliment I can attribute to working at Walnut is the fact that the environment is definitely made to cultivate training. The friendly atmosphere will value any of your talents and let you develop your skills accordingly. It’s not about knowing everything your role needs – it is about actively getting involved and showing the willingness to learn.

Pairing my weekly studies with a Data Services role has allowed me to integrate skills taught from University into work and vice-versa. The degree covers areas such as; Data Management, IT security and the key fundamentals of Project Management which all share aspects with my role. Relevant support can be found all around you from colleagues who specialise in specific fields. An Apprenticeship at Walnut is a great opportunity to gain valuable career experience, learn in-depth market research and have a quality time along the way.