Digital Software Apprentice

About us

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Job Description

PA are delighted to be recruiting digital apprentices into our Belfast location for the first time, building on the success of the programme in our London location. We can offer you unique opportunities to develop your skills and gain hands on software development experience on some of the most the complex digital initiatives, where you’ll be using contemporary coding platforms and modern tooling – working alongside our top digital talent. First, a little bit about us and what we believe in.

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. 

As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. In the ever-evolving landscape of digital technologies, including the transformative realm of artificial intelligence (AI),

we believe that embracing digital has changed businesses forever. Organisations that have embraced digital, including the integration of AI, are leading their industry and influencing others – and those that haven’t are falling behind. Joining us as an Apprentice, you will work on an assortment of real-life client projects delivering innovative software or data-driven solutions to our clients' most critical business needs. 

During your time on the Apprenticeship at PA, you’ll learn some of what it takes to be a top-notch software developer and consultant. You’ll be coached and guided by experts and have countless opportunities to broaden your experience on challenging projects and programmes. Whatever you work on, you’ll be part of the team and free to grow your networks, both here at PA and far beyond.

We have partnered with the University of Ulster, where you will study part-time for a Computing Science BSc ( https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202526/computing-systems-36167) alongside your apprenticeship in PA.

You will be required to secure a place on this course to begin your apprenticeship with PA. Your application to UU is separate to your application to PA, and you must apply directly with UU to secure a place on their degree course. We will not be able to apply for you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with a team of experienced software developers and consultants to understand client requirements and develop custom software solutions
• Learning and implementing new technologies and software development best practices
• Participating in code reviews and ensure the quality of the code
• Participating in meetings with clients to understand their requirements and provide solutions
• Writing documentation and conduct training sessions to clients
• Continuously improving your skills and knowledge in software development

Qualifications

We’d like you to bring:

• Working towards or having achieved CCC in A level’s or equivalent - This is aligned with the entry requirements of Ulster University. Please see full eligibility https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202526/computing-systems-36167
• A hunger for new challenges
• A collaborative working style, working at your best in dynamic teams
• The drive to succeed — and to help others achieve the same
• Curiosity and a desire to broaden your understanding of the world
• An enquiring mind, with the capability for innovative and analytical thinking

Nice to have’s

• Familiarity with a programming language or framework, such as Java, C#/.NET, or JavaScript.
• Basic understanding of relational and/or non-relational databases. (MS Access, MS SQL, MySQL, MongoDB)
• Awareness of infrastructure as code (IaC).
• Awareness of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Our Offer: 

• The opportunity to work alongside and learn from talented colleagues on real client challenges from the start
• The support and coaching to grow your software development skills and experience on real client work, tackling real world technical and business challenges
• The opportunity to work across all areas of the development lifecycle, from strategy to implementation, and to take on assignments in different sectors
• To work closely with test and DevOps specialists as well as service managers on automated software releases from development to production
• The opportunity to develop software and provide high-level technical designs in collaboration with business analysts, software architects, user researcher and experience designers
• A broad rich base of experience from which to build an outstanding digital career

Additional Information

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

We believe diversity fuels ingenuity. Diversity of thought brings exciting perspectives; diversity of experience brings a wealth of knowledge, and diversity of skills brings the tools we need. When we bring people together with diverse backgrounds, identities, and minds, embracing that difference through an inclusive culture where our people thrive; we unleash the power of diversity – bringing ingenuity to life.

Find out more about Life at PA here.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare for you and your family
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We are on a journey towards ensuring our workforce is diverse at all levels and that our firm is representative of the world around us. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.

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