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Tell us about your role?within the company you work for and what it involves. How does it relate to the degree apprenticeship??? 

I work for a large multi-discipline engineering consultancy within their Bridges team based in Exeter. As a bridge engineer, I am involved in all aspects of the asset lifecycle – from design and construction to maintenance and demolition. I work closely with local councils to maintain their structures and ensure that all the bridges you and I use daily are safe and capable carrying today’s traffic requirements. The degree apprenticeship has allowed me to develop my technical skills in all areas of engineering, not just my discipline, and given me the skills and confidence to expand my knowledge into cross-discipline projects.

What would you say were the benefits of doing an apprenticeship in comparison to returning to full-time education?

An apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to apply what you have learnt in the classroom to real-world projects and being active in a workplace allows you to develop professional skills you wouldn’t otherwise develop in full-time education, such as professionalism, networking, and collaboration with multiple disciplines. Apprenticeships also give you an opportunity to earn a wage, allowing your personal life to progress alongside your degree, and you come out the other side with a degree and no debt.

How has studying for a degree apprenticeship benefitted your future career? Has it opened new doors or progression for you?

The benefits of doing a degree apprenticeship are that it boosts your career significantly. Compared to the typical path of university and then work, by the time I finished my part time degree (which is only 2 years longer than a traditional degree) I have amassed 5 years of direct industry experience and achieved professional accreditation within my industry. I am much more employable and earning a better wage in my position than someone who has complete a full-time degree and gained 2 years industry experience.

How important are the roles of workplace mentor and academic mentor for you as an apprentice?

Workplace mentors are crucial to the successful completion of the apprenticeship. The workplace mentor not only teaches the apprentice based on their experience, but also works with the university to ensure the company are giving the apprentice relevant experience to pass professional accreditation. Academic mentors also play a crucial role in the apprenticeship, acting as a point of contact for any academic worries, as well as reporting back to the workplace mentor with suggestions on how the company can support the apprentice.

How supportive has Exeter been? How have they helped you through the process?

The University of Exeter has been incredibly supportive throughout my time studying and after graduating. The Degree Apprenticeships team has kept me informed of my responsibilities regarding the End Point Assessment (EPA) and professional accreditation throughout the course, inviting special guests to deliver informative presentation about the EPA. They have also helped through the next steps after graduating, chatting about further education, and even acting as references for applications.

My name is Jamie Berger, and I recently completed the Wealth Management degree apprenticeship at UBS. The program ran for four years, starting in 2021, and gave me the skills and hands on experience I needed to continue my career at UBS long term. Alongside the apprenticeship, I also earned a first class degree in Applied Finance from the University of Exeter, which made the experience even more rewarding.

What motivated you to pursue a degree apprenticeship rather than a traditional university route? 

I chose the route of a degree apprenticeship because it allowed me to gain real industry experience while earning a degree. The program gave me four years of hands on experience in the finance industry, which allowed me to apply what I was learning academically in a real workplace setting and really develop my skills. 

Along the way, I also built strong relationships with colleagues and industry professionals, which have been incredibly valuable and will continue to support my career development in the future. 

How do you think the apprenticeship has shaped your professional confidence or leadership abilities? 

The apprenticeship boosted my confidence by allowing me to put theory into practice every day. Applying what I learned through my studies directly in the workplace helped me better understand the industry and feel more confident in my abilities. 

The program also gave me opportunities to take additional external qualifications, such as the CISI exams, which helped deepen my technical knowledge and apply it directly within my role. Alongside that, leading groups and volunteering at events helped me develop my leadership skills and grow in confidence as a professional. 

Do you plan to pursue further education or training in the future? 

Completing the degree apprenticeship really strengthened my motivation to continue developing myself professionally. It encouraged a mindset of continuous learning and improvement, and I’m keen to keep building on that momentum. 

Since finishing the apprenticeship, I’ve already completed the Investment Advice Diploma (Level 4) with the CISI, and I plan to continue taking industry recognized exams to further develop my skills and progress my career within wealth management. 

I am Cole Hancock, a Year 1 Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice for Babcock, studying the Digital and Technology Solutions course, at the University of Exeter.  

What motivated you to start an apprenticeship programme?

I was excited to begin my career, but the university life didn’t interest me – I also didn’t want the debt that went along with it. After learning about degree apprenticeships at school, I realised that this would be the best path for me.  

Degree apprenticeships offer a unique blend of working hard, and focusing on development and growth that I felt was perfect for me – being able to get the degree that I would have had to go to university for but also gaining invaluable work experience in the meantime. 

How would you describe the support you receive from your employer and training provider?

The support from everybody so far has been incredible. At Babcock, most people are good at replying to questions and I’ve already had multiple people review code to give me feedback and help in my development whenever I’m stuck. 

This has been the same at university, where I have been assigned an Academic Mentor, who has been incredibly helpful in giving me support with my coursework, and any other questions I have asked. The lecturers have also all been extremely helpful and quick to reply with any queries I have had.

Has the apprenticeship influenced your career goals or future plans?

I’m not entirely sure what I would be doing if it weren’t for this apprenticeship, but I know that I would struggle to get into such an exciting and dynamic industry without it.  

Being able to get a degree and work experience simultaneously, will surely be a huge benefit to my future career goals and aspirations.

My name is Bradley Cruickshank. I work as a Site Reliability Engineer at UBS and studied the Digital Technology and Solutions degree apprenticeship, graduating in 2024. 

What motivated you to pursue a degree apprenticeship rather than a traditional university route? 

Early on, I knew I wanted to build a career in technology within financial services. The range of roles, fast paced environment, and strong focus on collaboration really stood out to me, so I was looking for a pathway that would let me gain real, hands on experience as early as possible. A degree apprenticeship offered exactly that - the chance to learn on the job, apply what I was studying straight away, and grow as part of a team from day one. 

The practical benefits also played a big part in my decision. Earning a salary, gaining industry experience and starting my career within a global organization meant I could stay focused on developing my skills and thinking long term about my professional growth. 
I was looking for a route that was closely aligned to real roles, with clear structure, support and a direct pathway into the industry I wanted to work in. The apprenticeship provided all of this and allowed me to build momentum in my career earlier than a traditional degree route, while still earning a qualification. 

Were there any challenges you faced during the apprenticeship, and how did you overcome them? 

Balancing university work with day to day responsibilities was one of the biggest challenges, particularly during busy periods. I managed this by being open with my line manager and team, setting clear expectations around study time, and staying focused on priorities. That openness helped to keep everything manageable and allowed me to perform well in both areas. 

Another challenge was studying subjects that weren’t directly related to my day to day role, which sometimes meant a steeper learning curve. I found that taking a “little and often” approach, by studying in small, regular chunks, made a huge difference and helped me gradually build confidence in unfamiliar areas. 

The synoptic project was challenging, but having the right support made a big difference. I leaned on advice from my lecturers and guidance from my line manager and colleagues, which helped me stay focused and approach the project with confidence. 

How do you think apprenticeship has shaped your professional confidence or leadership abilities? 

The apprenticeship played a big role in building my confidence and developing my leadership skills. Being exposed to a broad range of technologies and topics beyond my immediate role helped me become a more well rounded technologist. That wider perspective has made it easier for me to take ownership of more complex work and contribute more confidently within my team. 

The group assignments were especially valuable. Working with apprentices from different backgrounds gave me real opportunities to step into leadership roles. Whether it was coordinating tasks, leading discussions, or helping others through technical challenges, those experiences closely mirrored real workplace situations and strengthened skills I now use in my role at UBS. 

Overall, the apprenticeship pushed me outside my comfort zone and showed me what I’m capable of, giving me a level of confidence that continues to shape how I approach challenges and leadership today. 

What advice would you give to someone considering a degree apprenticeship?

My biggest advice is to understand the level of commitment and be ready to work hard. A degree apprenticeship is incredibly rewarding but balancing full time work with study takes discipline and good time management.  A “little but often” approach to coursework really helps; it keeps things manageable and reduces pressure during busier periods. 

I’d also encourage future apprentices to make the most of the opportunity to build their network. You’ll meet people from different career backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, and there’s a lot to learn from that. 

Finally, take the time to think about what environment and route that aligns best with how you learn. If you enjoy learning by doing, taking on responsibility early and accelerating your career while earning a degree, an apprenticeship can be a great choice. 
 

Davinder Singh Bajaj is a Stewardship Analyst on the Financial Services Professional Degree Apprenticeship at UBS. 

How did you choose this particular apprenticeship and provider? 

I chose the Financial Services Professional Degree Apprenticeship with the University of Exeter and UBS because it offered a really strong mix of academic learning, professional qualifications and hands on experience at a global financial institution. The opportunity to earn a respected degree from a Russell Group university while working at UBS stood out to me, as it meant gaining early exposure to an international firm alongside my studies.

A key factor for me was the program’s alignment with the CFA qualification, which allows apprentices to work toward both the degree and CFA Level I at the same time. That structure which supports efficient, relevant professional development, alongside positive feedback from previous apprentices and Exeter’s strong reputation in economics and finance, gave me confidence in the quality of the program.

Have your responsibilities changed since starting the apprenticeship? If so, how?

When I first started the apprenticeship, I worked in a supportive role, helping senior colleagues with the operational side of proxy voting. This gave me a strong foundation and a solid understanding of stewardship processes and controls.

As I progressed through the program, I gradually took on more responsibility and independence, eventually leading the operational side of proxy voting. Over time, my role evolved further as I moved into the research and engagement side of stewardship. I began building my own coverage, contributing to voting recommendations, supporting engagement analysis and joining company engagements alongside senior colleagues.

The subject matter expertise I developed through my earlier operational work continued to be valuable as I became involved in wider projects, where I could provide specialist input. Overall, my role has grown from a supportive, operational position into one with greater ownership, leadership, and research responsibility.

Are there any challenges you've faced during the apprenticeship? How did you overcome them?

One of the main challenges was managing my time effectively while balancing work responsibilities, academic study and personal commitments. This became especially challenging during busier periods and pushed me to be more structured in how I planned my workload. I managed this by staying in regular communication with both my workplace and academic mentors, discussing capacity, priorities, and deadlines, and by using calendars and task tracking tools to stay organized.

Another challenge was building confidence when working independently, particularly as I started taking on more responsibility. As my role evolved, I gradually built confidence by asking questions, seeking regular feedback and learning from supportive senior colleagues. Over time, this helped strengthen both my time management skills and my confidence working independently.

Do you feel more prepared for progression or promotion within your organisation?

Definitely! The apprenticeship strengthened my technical understanding of financial services, governance, and stewardship, while also developing key professional skills. Applying my academic learning directly to my role helped me build confidence, take ownership of my work, and engage more effectively in discussions.

The strong focus on Continuous Professional Development also encouraged me to be more proactive in identifying development areas and setting clear goals.

So far, the apprenticeship has given me valuable practical experience alongside my studies, helping me build a strong foundation early in my career. It’s equipped me with the skills and confidence to take on more responsibility as I continue progressing within stewardship or related areas of the organization.