Fast forward to autumn 2024 and I’m incredibly proud to have achieved a 1st class honours degree on the Graduate Apprenticeships (GA) for a BSc in Data Science.  I’m a husband and father of two boys (now 13 and 6), and throughout my studies I held a hemisphere-wide role for a business unit of Oceaneering, life was and still is very busy for me. The great thing about distance learning on the GA is that I chose when to study, I found my groove every morning before starting work and committed to a two-hour meeting every Tuesday morning to discuss coursework which included data mining, AI, statistics and critical thinking.

The support I received from each tutor and wider GA network was exceptional; always on the end of a chat or email and happy to help, and that meant the experience cultivated a safe space for learning, reflection and growth – which renewed my voice.

The real strength of the GA is in its hands-on approach to learning, it’s both theory and practical - I worked with company data, solving problems and I can safely state the GA has enhanced my career through this practice. I’m six weeks into my new job within the company, Global Pricing Specialist, where I get to use my new data science skills daily.