Max completed his Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship at Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, where he worked within a six-person community team as part of the wider Non-Acute Analytical Team.

He began his apprenticeship in September 2024 and has recently finished, achieving a Distinction.

Early Challenges and Learning Curve

Choosing an apprenticeship was an easy decision for Max…

“I chose to do an apprenticeship because it gave me the opportunity to learn practical and technical skills related to a specific career, while also gaining real workplace experience and being paid. I had previously completed a metal fabrication apprenticeship, so I already understood the benefits an apprenticeship can offer.”

Overcoming Challenges

One of Max’s hardest challenges was producing written work for his portfolio and projects…

“I’ve never been the strongest in English or writing and I can find it difficult to put my thoughts into words. Fitting in the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) sometimes felt jarring, as it didn’t fit my writing style. This has improved drastically with my tutor Joel’s support and as I’ve written more over time.”

Growing Skills, Confidence and Capability

Through commitment and determination, Max’s report writing improved significantly. He also developed his presentation style, SQL writing, reading and comprehension skills, and soft skills such as communication and teamwork. Most importantly, his confidence grew.

At times, Max doubted his performance and ability, so achieving a Distinction has been one of his biggest successes. He has also built strong working relationships, including with stakeholders who now trust him to raise issues and help resolve them quickly and efficiently.

An Integral Part of the NHS Team

Max’s growing confidence and capability have seen him become a trusted member of the team, contributing meaningfully to projects and supporting colleagues across the service.

Employer Insight from Mersey & West Lancashire

Kerry, Head of Analytics at Mersey & West Lancashire NHS Trust, shares her perspective on apprenticeships and Max’s contribution…

“We’ve employed tech apprentices for two years now and apprenticeships have proved to benefit our organisation through improved training. On average, we see a return on investment from a new tech apprentice within three months. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our apprentices grow in confidence. They often take on more responsibility than originally set out in their job descriptions, exceeding our expectations. Our apprentice, Max, is exceptional. His attitude is always positive and his manner engaging. He is willing to ask questions and learn new things and he has become an integral part of the team – we could not bear to lose him. Any employers considering a tech apprentice should 100% do it. The training apprentices receive delivers a great skillset and our experience with LearnTech has been very positive.”

Support and Tutor Experience

Max has enjoyed the online learning, despite feeling nervous and reserved at the start, as online learning wasn’t something he had experienced much since Covid. However, he became more comfortable over time. The online learning provided everything he needed to grasp and consolidate new topics, as well as interact with peers.

Reflecting on his learning experience and the support he received throughout the apprenticeship from LearnTech and his tutor, Max says…

“I had regular catch‑ups to review how I was progressing in the apprenticeship, whether I was understanding topics and how I was managing assignments. I also received feedback on my work, as well as regular check‑ins on how I was coping personally, at work and with the apprenticeship overall. I’ve had a positive learning experience. My tutor, Joel, facilitated the learning well, with engaging sessions that included everyone in the cohort and gave us adequate time to complete assignments. He’s also been very helpful in giving advice on real-world scenarios, off-the-job training and the apprenticeship as a whole.”

Trainer Reflection

LearnTech trainer, Joel, adds…

“Max has done very well in his apprenticeship, achieving a Distinction in his assessment. He has a strong work ethic and actively seeks opportunities to apply his learning in the workplace. Max is always open to feedback and consistently improves the standard of his work. One of his projects focused on predicting patient attendance for a specific area of the NHS Trust. He went beyond the project requirements and handled the impact of Covid-19 on patient numbers particularly well when developing the predictive model. His presentation skills have progressed from being reserved to confident when presenting to multiple stakeholders. It has been wonderful to see Max grow in confidence and ability throughout his learning journey.”

Looking Ahead

Max is currently awaiting confirmation of a permanent position within his organisation. Looking ahead, he says…

“We have a lot of work predicted, so I want to continue improving my analytical skills. I’d like to upskill further by using Python more at work, exploring Power Automate for workflows and developing my Power BI and SQL skills, including Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) pipelines and maintenance. I’m also open to further apprenticeships or qualifications.”

Advice for Aspiring Tech Apprentices

To anyone considering a tech apprenticeship, Max advises…

“I’d definitely recommend looking into it and researching the courses or career paths available. I would also recommend LearnTech as a provider to explore further.”

At LearnTech, we’re dedicated to empowering the next generation of tech professionals, so if you’re an organisation that would benefit from hiring a tech apprentice, explore our Employer Guide to get started, or contact us to book a no-obligation Information Session.

Alternatively, if you’re an individual inspired by Max’s journey, take a look at our Apprentice Guide. We’re here to help, so do get in touch if you have any questions.