What’s your role in IS?
My name is Emily and I currently work in the Cyber Security Team as a Cyber Security Advisor. My role is predominately governance based, meaning I look after our security related policies and make sure we’re compliant for certifications and audits. I also interact with other employees throughout NWL, answering any security related questions, giving advice, and managing risks with supply chain.
What made you apply for the Digital Apprenticeship?
The opportunity to work for Northumbrian Water drew me in, working a big local company that you’ve heard have a great values and longstanding employees. I really liked the idea of being able to obtain a degree whilst also earning a salary, this meant no student debt and instead some great work experience in a new employment area. I had worked in customer service retail and hospitality roles whilst at sixth form as well as being an au pair whist travelling, so this was to be a totally new experience. This tech industry is still up and coming and so I saw this as a great opportunity to start my professional career, even though I wasn’t 100% sure where it would take me.
What did you do throughout your apprenticeship?
Throughout my apprenticeship we covered a range of topics at university for the degree, including software engineering, coding, and network & infrastructure. These topics helped within the work environment as during projects I was aware of these new technical terms as we had been taught them for the degree. Within Northumbrian Water I worked within many teams, gaining a great insight of how the business works and all the different areas – it’s not just about water coming from taps! As I didn’t have a technical background, I really enjoyed the people aspect of projects which is why I gravitated towards placements in teams where I got to create things or communicate with other employees, such as creating training for a new billing system.
A job opportunity opened in the cyber security team whilst I was still completing my apprenticeship and through my past placements, it meant I was a great fit. This then turned into a full-time position once I graduated, and my role has expanded into what it is today.
What support did you get with your degree and learning?
We were each assigned a mentor, who I would catch-up with monthly. My mentor was the Director of our department, so this gave me a great insight into things from all across the organisation as well as IS. It can be challenging managing a full-time job alongside completing a degree, however the end goal was worth it for the short time struggle and if workload ever got too much I had support from a manager who helped me balance things, as well as the other apprentices seeing as we were all in the same boat.
What do you enjoy about working at NWL?
Northumbrian Water is a great company to work for, we’re given opportunities to learn new skills or gain certifications if we want to. There is also a real mix of people and having been here for 7 years, I can see myself staying and progressing my career further.