How an apprenticeship helped James build a career in software development with United Welsh

When James Fenton finished his A-levels, like many others he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next.

University didn’t feel like the obvious route, and he didn’t know much about apprenticeships at the time.

Then he found the Software Engineering Apprenticeship with United Welsh, delivered through our partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University. The BSc Applied Software Engineering Apprenticeship gives people the chance to gain paid work experience while studying part-time at university.

For James, it offered the best of both worlds.

“When I came across the degree apprenticeship at United Welsh, it really stood out,” he said.

“By doing it this way I would be able to get a degree and gain the work experience.

“I feel really lucky the way it panned out.”

Combining working at United Welsh with studying has been demanding, but the 22-year-old said it has also been beneficial.

“It’s been hard work, particularly during the period of submitting assignments,” he said.

“Sometimes I would be doing 12-hour days, working in the day and then doing university work from 5pm until 9pm or 10pm.

“However, I think the studying helped me at work and work also helped me at university.

“I have learned a lot from people at work, from their knowledge and experiences.

“Although it has been hard work, it has been a really good way of experiencing this journey. The benefit that you gain from the experience alongside studying makes it worth it.”

As part of his degree, James focussed his dissertation on a project he completed at work about the IT Helpdesk. Part of his role as an apprentice at United Welsh included building a new Helpdesk.

James said: “Everything I have done at work helped me at university, and I would not have got a First in my degree if it was not for everyone I work with and everyone I have worked with.

“The support I have had from staff at United Welsh has been awesome. I love my team and I love the wider team.

“I enjoy talking to the people I work with and they have helped me so much, especially my close team.

“I’m really grateful to everyone in my team and also for the opportunity to do an apprenticeship alongside my degree.”

James said he is looking forward to taking on new responsibilities in his role as Junior Software Developer.

He added: “It’s exciting going through this journey. It feels like I am no longer the apprentice now.

“Because my team is so supportive, I know they will help me in the transition.

“My mindset has always been that I will try my best at anything I do, anything I set my mind on, I will try my best.

“That will be my aim going forward, I am going to put 100 per cent of my effort into the new role.”