Apprenticeships - the Jisc experience
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The document outlines Jisc's apprenticeship program, focusing on the role of an apprentice in cybersecurity and the structured support provided by mentors and HR. It highlights the cost-effectiveness of apprenticeships, the professional development opportunities they offer, and the blend of practical and theoretical learning experiences. The apprentice, Nicole Stewart, shares her positive experience, emphasizing the benefits of acquiring a degree without student debt and gaining industry experience.
Apprenticeships - the Jisc experience
- 1. Apprenticeships - the Jisc experience Andrew Davis, infrastructure and critical services manager, Jisc Nicole Stewart, cyber security analyst apprentice, Jisc
- 2. Why an apprentice? • An “opportunity” arose! • Difficulties in recruiting Cyber security analysts • 4 year vision – “develop-your-own” • Cost effective – paying the apprentice levy why not use it?
- 3. • The purpose of this role is to provide support for the work of the security operations centre. Working in a professional team of analysts and incident response specialists whose responsibilities extend to all elements of the collection and analysis of data and the operation of mitigation systems as well as supporting infrastructures for intelligence gathering. • Very competitive salary The job role
- 4. Alignment of the job role to the course 4
- 5. The role of the mentor 5 • A good mentor is essential • Make sure they have the right tools • Support from People services (HR) • Reward and recognize the role • Beware! – Does their “day-job” have sufficient time flexibility?
- 6. • Work with your People services (HR) team to develop interview strategies • Adjust your interview technique to allow for their lack of experience • Read their CV’s to pick out areas of interest • We developed an informal ‘chatty’ style of interview rather than traditional ‘board’ style interview panels • Look for character and ability to learn rather than experience Recruitment
- 7. • We choose a blended on-line approach of face-to-face workshops and on-the-job experience • QA Apprenticeships and University of Roehampton • On-line approach allowed for multiple start dates (every ten weeks) • Attend workshops for 2 days every 10 weeks • 20% of an apprentices working week must be spent “off-the- job” – we finalised on Friday’s studying from home On-line approach to learning
- 8. • We placed the apprentice in various roles within cyber security division • Had the apprentice shadow members of staff running procurements • After 3 months they were able to work within teams researching end- point-protection solutions • Owned the asset register and purchasing! The day job
- 9. Time to introduce our first apprentice…
- 10. Nicole Stewart, cyber security analyst apprentice, Jisc
- 11. Apprenticeships – the Jisc experience Nicole Stewart
- 12. The Apprenticeship 12 • Second year degree apprentice at Jisc • One of the first • Currently in the cyber threat intelligence team after deciding last year threat was what I found most interesting • Earn a salary allowing for saving for the future • No student debt
- 13. • Was not aware of degree apprenticeships until the end of my first year at college. • Seems they are still under advertised and few students know about them. • Originally I was set on going to University to complete a degree. • I did not want to learn everything in a classroom or from a book. • Was the degree I would obtain from this apprenticeship going to be of the same quality University or Apprenticeship
- 14. • Enter the working environment but still get a degree • STEM subjects are more useful with experience as well as the degree • Experience different sectors to determine what career I want • Learn the theory in practise Industry Experience 14
- 15. Learning 15 • Started with no knowledge, spent the first year gaining a basic networking knowledge through courses and my mentor. • My degree is in Digital and Technology Solutions and has a Cyber Security focus. • The theory I learn I can implement in every day work. • Establish the separation between learning and work - 20%
- 16. • Opportunity to meet and work with people the best in their fields from all over their world • Attend international conferences • Complete extra certifications at same time as my degree • Colleagues more than happy to help me understand when I am stuck. Extra Benefits
- 17. Thank you
Editor's Notes
- #3: People Services looking to introduce apprentices into the business at very short notice – would this be something that would be expanded in future years? Harwell suffers because of its geographical location – middle of the country side with limited public transport access How long we think it takes to get the apprentice properly trained and educated to a point that they can start being properly effective – quicker than a graduate engineer? Cost benefits…
- #4: This offers a wide scope from where we might want to focus the apprentice once we’ve spotted their area of interest and aptitude
- #5: Talk here about how we aligned the job role to the course and identified subject matter experts to assist in aligning the on-the-job-training with the degree course.
- #6: What do mentors do: coach, e.g. helping someone acquire new skills and abilities counsellor, e.g. listening and helping someone work out solutions to their problems networker: helping someone develop the connections they need to gain experience, get a job, etc. facilitator: helping set and achieve goals critical friend: telling someone the uncomfortable truth that only a true friend can sounding-board: giving someone the chance to try out ideas and approaches in a safe environment role model: providing an example from which someone else can learn
- #7: None of us had interviewed young adults before – People services assisted here – no suites! Interview technique for someone with no experience in the role they have applied to learn Look at CV to find something that we can get the candidate to open up about. No point scarring them!! Character and ability to learn are the pointers here
- #8: We had to choose an on-line approach after we were let down by the College as we had entered the apprentice market late Again, useful to have multiple start dates as QA missed the first start date! Duty of care – our workshops were in London and they didn’t count as part of their 20% “off-the-job”. Different companies have different approaches. We also paid travel costs.
- #9: The shadowing is where the interest developed in wanting to be a “Threat Analyst” Our apprentice was an extremely quick learner, mastering the basics of networking quickly Owning the asset register gave a sense of purpose, but also introduced all the equipment and established importance in maintaining asset lists for finance purposes etc…
- #10: Introduce Nicole
- #13: I am a second year degree apprentice at Jisc I was one of the first apprentices Jisc decided to take on. I work as a cyber security analyst currently in the cyber threat intelligence team at Jisc after I was shown the different aspects of threat in my first year and decided it was what I found most interesting out of everything I had learnt. I have a salary because I have a full-time job and at the same time Jisc utilise the apprenticeship levy and pay for my degree. Meaning I can already start saving for my future and the best part is - no student debt!
- #14: I decided in my second year at college I wanted to complete a degree apprenticeship. I was not aware they existed until I attended a career fair where there was just one apprenticeship provider exhibiting. I find it is still the case now that many people do not know about degree apprenticeships unless they have talked to someone who is completing one. After researching degree apprenticeships more I decided it was the best solution for me. I wanted to work, I wanted to earn a salary I was bored of sitting in a classroom every day learning from a book. Before I learnt of this new pathway, I was set on going to university because I understood the value of a degree and I did really enjoy learning. However I struggled to get along with the idea that I would have to continue to learn in the same way.
- #15: As I had always had an interest in all STEM subjects I knew that was the path I wanted to follow. I also knew that although degrees were needed, experience was most valued in this particular industry, so degree apprenticeships gave me the benefit of both. With an apprenticeship I am able to experience the different aspects of the industry so I can determine what I enjoy working on and can follow the career I want. The only issue I considered was if it was going to be possible to obtain a quality degree while working full time. I try to achieve the best I can so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to achieve the same grade as I would attending university where my degree was my sole focus.
- #16: I studied A levels in Science and Maths at college so when I started at Jisc I had almost no knowledge of computers or networking. The first year I spent gaining a basic networking knowledge through courses and my mentor. My degree is in Digital and Technology Solutions and has a cyber security focus so the theory I am learning I can implement in my everyday work and I am seeing it in practise. I think this makes it a more effective way of learning. When I started the degree I was informed that as part of the apprenticeship I had to be allocated 20% of my work contract to work on my degree. So I was given one working day a week to dedicate to my degree and I have always felt fully supported including being allowed extra time for my degree should I ever need it. This alleviated my worry that I would not be able to achieve the best grade I could.
- #17: Through completing this apprenticeship over the last year and a half I have been given opportunities that I did not even consider. These extra benefits are what made the apprenticeship surpass going to university alone, as they are made available to me through working for Jisc. I have attended international conferences, been given the opportunity to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields from all over the world. And can complete extra certifications in networking and security at the same time as my degree. There have been occasions before exams when I have been struggling to fully understand a particular concept and my colleagues have came over to help me with it. Teaching me in different ways until I completely understand it. The experience of the people that surround me at work is invaluable.