Some of our current DVLA Year in Industry students have sat down to tell us about their first month being part of DVLA’s digital family.
As part of DVLA’s digital transformation, we’ve invested in opportunities for new talent to bring their skills to our workforce. This includes our CoDe programme, which allows university students to spend a year on our Information Technology Services (ITS) team, gaining valuable work experience before returning to finish their degree.
Let’s hear from a few of them!
Ross Couch, Strategy and Communications Officer
“My first month with DVLA has been a great experience that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Once I had completed my mandatory training, I was eased into the team and given some tasks to get stuck into right away.
I’ve been writing a blog about the challenges of dyslexia in the workplace for Dyslexia Awareness Week and have recently been given ownership and responsibility for the new digital screens that are displayed around DVLA. I’m proud of the work the team has done with the screens so far and it’s a task that I have found very rewarding.
I’m enjoying the hybrid work structure as it allows me to have valuable in-person interactions with my colleagues whilst also having the ability to do my work remotely. I’ve really enjoyed my first month in ITS and I’m looking forward to continuing here.”
Ross Couch
Year in Industry Student, Strategy and Communications
“My first month with DVLA has been a great experience that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Once I had completed my training, I was eased into the team and given some tasks to get stuck into right away”
Jonathan Lim, Software Engineer
“For my first month in DVLA, I finished my mandatory training and am still setting myself up to be ready for work. I’ve managed to complete a Ruby course and learn the basics of feature testing while mentored by colleagues.
Most of the time, I shadowed the team, who introduced me to the basics of Ruby, test packs, bitbucket, regexes, git, and so on. My colleagues were very friendly and eased the anxiety and stress of starting a new job, giving me an easier time settling in. I’ve also found hybrid working to be a positive experience, although I do enjoy my moments socialising with my colleagues.
Overall, it’s been an exciting first month, and I look forward to the next steps of my internship.”
Jamie Quinn, Software Engineer
“My first month at DVLA has been an absolutely fantastic experience. Being thrown into projects while still receiving all the necessary training and guidance to make me feel as comfortable as I possibly can has been more than appreciated.
I am never made to feel bad if I need to ask loads of questions or take slightly longer to solve a task. Help is always accessible, be it from members of my team or even other departments, and I enjoy working in the office as it helps me keep my work and home life separate.”
Jamie Quinn
Year in Industry Student, Software Engineer
“Help is always accessible, be it from members of my team or even other departments”
Matthew Salter, Software Engineer
“My first month as part of the Emerging Tech Lab has been really enjoyable. My team have welcomed me in and I’ve learnt a lot from them over the last few weeks! I’ve enjoyed being able to put into practice the skills that I’ve learned at university and seeing how I can utilise them in a real-world environment. I’ve already had the opportunity to attend some valuable training days alongside the great online learning tools provided to us. This has made the transition to the role even smoother!
Hybrid working is working really well for me and I find there’s a good balance between being able to collaborate with my team in person whilst also being able to work from home without the travel time. The perks of having a canteen on site have also been amazing for when you inevitably forget your lunch, although I’m yet to try most of the options available!”
Keep an eye out for more!
Over the next year, we’ll touch base with the year-in-industry students, detailing their professional and personal journeys.
For now, check out the development opportunities on offer across DVLA’s Information Technology Service:
