Mark Porter, 20, chose an IT and digital solutions degree apprenticeship at AstraZeneca over university
How long have you worked for AstraZeneca and what do you enjoy about your role?
I’ve worked for AstraZeneca for two years. I enjoy software engineering and coding the most, but I’m also surprised to find that I enjoy interacting and engaging various stakeholders as well as learning about various business processes.
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship at AstraZeneca?
I’d planned to go to university but as exam season approached, I hadn’t attended open days or visited the universities I’d applied to. I found a degree apprenticeship in an area I enjoyed, with a company I could be proud to work for, and that was so close to home. For me it was win-win.
How would you describe the culture at AstraZeneca?
One of the values of the company is to ‘be a great place to work’ and this is reflected in the culture. It is a very inclusive and open environment, people are always willing to help and support, and there is a big emphasis on work-life balance and wellbeing.
What has been the most rewarding/interesting project you have been involved in and why?
Project managing AstraZeneca’s new Digital Innovation Hub. This consisted of a great variety of tasks and while I found some more challenging than others, it meant that I matured greatly and proved to myself that I can handle a greater level of responsibility than I thought.
To find out more about apprenticeships at AstraZeneca, visit careers.astrazeneca.com/early-talent
