GET YOUR START IN DATA WITH A DATA APPRENTICESHIP

Bryoni Keighley, a Digital Degree Apprentice working for the NWIS Information Services Directorate Publishing Team, tells us more about her launch into the world of data science.

Tell us more about your role.

I’m a Digital Degree Apprentice working for the NWIS Information Services Directorate Publishing Team. The Information Services Directorate collects and processes facts and figures that help NHS Wales run effectively, and the Publishing Team produce a range of web apps including dashboards, health maps, and online tools to report them. Health boards and Welsh Government then use this data to monitor, analyse and shape policy and to manage and improve care.

As an apprentice I split my time between work and university, working for NWIS four days a week and attending university for one. I’m studying Data Science at UWTSD which includes modules like Data Analysis and Visualisation, Information Engineering and Software Development. Being part of the Information Services Directorate allows me to put the skills I learn to good use in the workplace.

What does an average day of work look like for you?

Before COVID-19, I was based in the Swansea office four days a week. Now I work from home, starting with reading through emails and Microsoft Teams channels to get set up for the day. I’m responsible for the development of the Welsh Data Hub, the single point of access for our health and care intelligence products and data, which we developed using Mura CMS. An average day usually involves some sort of Mura work - adding an interactive map to redirect readers to other websites or putting together a data table for readers to access specific documents directly from the site, for example. Then, I usually catch up with my team in the early afternoon to discuss what we are all working on and what we could potentially be working on together.

The Information Services Directorate ensures all the teams work together to share our skills and knowledge, which is hugely beneficial as an apprentice, because it allows me to learn from other teams and colleagues. Some days also involve training, whether that is independent study for my university modules or software training for PowerBI or SQL.

What first sparked your interest in this area of work?

I joined NWIS as a Business Development Apprentice, giving administrative support for meetings and projects a few years ago. As I took minutes at meetings, I was party to indepth discussions around the improvement and innovation of the NHS digital strategy programme. My department, along with Welsh Government and Health boards, work together to improve the services we offer for the monitoring and analysis of patient data in order to shape policy and improve the care patients will receive.

I wanted to learn more about data and information systems so I can contribute to these discussions and improve services. There is an ever-growing demand for data scientists in this increasingly digital world and as a twenty-one-year-old, I have grown up alongside the development of digital.

What are you hoping this role will lead to?

I’m hoping this role will help me develop my skills and experience in data science so I can progress within NWIS. One day I would like to have a seat at the table so I can use my knowledge to contribute to improving the future of patient care. The skills I will gain from this role are invaluable. The demand for these skills is extremely high in organisations looking to improve their business performance by analysing data to make decisions. I’m hoping this role will provide me with all of the skills and experience I need to continue with a successful career in data.

Would you have any advice for someone else entering this field?

Go for it! It’s an exciting field that is always growing and developing. No matter what age or experience you have, if you are interested in data and what it can do then you should put that curiosity to good use and start learning. Don’t be scared of unfamiliar coding languages or software because you will soon pick it up. There are hundreds of videos and learning materials online to help you with just about anything. My Digital Degree Apprenticeship has provided me with so many opportunities to learn and develop, and I’m only halfway through. By the time I graduate I will have developed so much knowledge in data science and the skills that go with it, that the opportunities will be endless as demand is so high. Data will be the driving force of the future, not just in business, but in every aspect of life. Start learning now!

"There is an ever-growing demand for data scientists in this increasingly digital world and as a twenty-one-year-old, I have grown up alongside the development of digital."