David Reeves from Poynton High School & Performing Arts College in Cheshire completed his paid internship at Bupa in summer 2023. Find out how his experience helped him feel ready for his future.
Before joining the Career Ready programme, David didn’t know what he wanted to do after finishing his A-levels. His interests were in tech, but he wasn’t sure what a career would look like in that field.
“I had followed what I enjoyed subject-wise up throughout high school and sixth form, but still didn’t know what I wanted to follow on with – whether that be uni or an apprenticeship. I knew I had a passion for technology, but I wasn’t sure on how to pursue a career within IT specifically. I didn’t fully know what the different options were, as well as how to properly access them.”
His internship at Bupa gave him the insights he needed to understand what his options were for a future in tech, as well as the confidence to pursue one.
“My internship helped me understand what different options there are within IT as well as the different pathways I can take to build my career. I’m now much more self-confident in knowing what I enjoy and where I want to go with my career.”
Gaining work experience
David spent four weeks at Bupa working in the End User Computing department, where he had the chance to shadow specialists in his team and attend meetings.
“My internship gave me experience within multiple different areas and teams in IT, helping me understand what options are available to me and helped me build a network. I know the connections I made at Bupa will support me with future applications and positions.”
He also had the chance to work on projects that developed his teamwork skills and learn more about computing software.
“I had the opportunity be part of a team and produce meaningful and helpful information for others. I gained hands on experience with multiple areas of cloud computing, understanding the key components, and software.”
David found the practical nature of his internship the most valuable – he feels it’s given him a foundation that he can build his career on.
“The best part of the internship was being able to experience the workplace in such an involved way, as well as being able to form the connections and gain the knowledge that I did. It’s given me support that I’ll take with me my whole career.”
On the way to a rewarding future
Thanks to the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the world of work, David now feels more confident in his future and is planning to complete an apprenticeship and pursue a career in IT.
“This experience has allowed me to increase my self-confidence and broaden my knowledge of the workplace. It showed me that there are multiple options and gave me practical advice on how to access them. Overall, I’d say it’s given me the skills and tools to set myself up with a really successful career.”
