Frankie began her Level 3 Data Technician apprenticeship in September 2023 with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, as part of their Business Intelligence Team.

Opting for an apprenticeship, as an alternative to university, was an easy decision for her. Frankie says,

“I chose an apprenticeship instead of university to feel more progression and independence, and this course stood out significantly due to the NHS’s reputation. I also thought that gaining hands-on experience alongside a qualification made more sense than continuing full-time education, especially since this career could also lead to getting a degree further down the line, whilst supported by my organisation. I knew this apprenticeship would allow me to pursue interests both inside and outside of work, which I continue to make the most of.”

Frankie embraces the challenges she encounters in her job, taking responsibility for identifying and resolving issues independently. This has developed her critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling her to manipulate her projects and software as required. She has also gained invaluable transferable skills such as communication and teamwork, which have helped her integrate smoothly into her new team.

Frankie explains,

“One of my biggest achievements is being able to collaborate and assist with multiple projects and being able to network with external organisations such as the Fire and Rescue Services. I feel genuinely proud that I have been able to adapt to a working environment, show my worth and voluntarily take on multiple additional learning experiences to make the most of my situation.”

Frankie’s dedication and hard work were further recognised when she received 1st place in the Digital Apprentice of the Year award in May 2024 at the NHS Connect Conference in Blackpool. She commends LearnTech as her training provider,

“I find learning online to be a brilliant teaching tool. There is great flexibility, and it works better for student schedules. Additionally, the collaborative nature that it can bring out (especially when in breakout rooms) provides a much more comfortable atmosphere between the students and teachers.”

Samir, Technical Tutor/Mentor, commented,

“Frankie decided to enrol for the apprenticeship after researching her options and knew what she wanted to get out of it. This has been evident in her approach to learning, and, she has enthusiastically sought out opportunities to challenge herself on her own initiative. Frankie is hard working, approachable and will very frequently help peers during the training sessions. Frankie responds extremely well to feedback and always uses the opportunity to learn something new or perform a task more efficiently. Frankie has demonstrated excellent time management skills, high quality work (project write-ups for the portfolio) and has done a good job of discussing her training plan with both her line manager and myself, to ensure they are off-the-job (OTJ) compliant. She has proactively been reviewing her own development and planning on how to meet her career aspirations within the NHS.”

In summary, Frankie’s manager, Jenny (Senior Business Intelligence Analyst), says,

“Frankie joined our System Planning, Performance & Contracting (SPPC) BI team as a Data Technician Apprentice nine months ago, and has already proven herself to be an extremely valuable member of the team. Frankie’s work is of remarkably high quality; it is accurate, well-presented, and timely. I have received feedback from colleagues describing Frankie’s work as ‘top notch’ and ‘the work of someone who has been doing the job for years not months.’ Frankie is committed to her own personal development. She will grasp any opportunity given to further her experience and will actively seek out training and shadowing to improve her Excel, Power BI and SQL skills. Although she has only been an apprentice for nine months now and it is early days in her career journey, I can say with 100% confidence that she would make an excellent intelligence analyst, if she decides to continue this career path, and will be a valuable asset to any employer.”

For anyone considering an apprenticeship, Frankie offers this advice,

“I highly recommend it. I genuinely believe that becoming an apprentice is the best pathway I could have chosen. I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow and become proficient in such an interesting career, whilst receiving so much support from all angles.”

After completing her apprenticeship, Frankie hopes to secure a permanent position with the NHS, achieve promotions, and pursue further qualifications, possibly at a degree level.

If you’re an organisation that would benefit from hiring a tech apprentice, explore our Employer Guide to get started. Or if you’re an individual inspired by Frankie’s journey, check out our Apprentice Guide. We’re here to help, so do contact us if you have any questions.