Mark Weldon

Why did your employer choose this apprenticeship at Teesside?

The apprenticeship offers a practical way to develop digital and business analysis skills while applying them directly to real work. It supports us in improving how we understand and manage change, which is particularly important for the process improvement work I’m involved in.

How have you found the apprenticeship?

It’s been both challenging and rewarding – particularly the business transformation module, which has influenced how I approach problems at work. Rather than jumping straight into solutions, I now take the time to fully understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and who it impacts.

What skills or knowledge have you gained?

I’ve developed a more structured approach to analysing business problems and supporting change effectively. Working on a live project to improve our document processes has allowed me to apply my learning in practice. As part of this, I created a range of models to explore issues within the current process – breaking them down across people, processes, systems and data – to identify root causes of inefficiencies and better understand how different teams experience the process.

How has the support from your employer and the University been?

My employer has provided valuable opportunities to apply my learning in a real-world context, which has been essential to deepening my understanding. Teesside University has offered a clear framework for approaching business transformation, introducing practical techniques that can be applied in the workplace. Together, this support has helped build my confidence in analysing and supporting change.

Would you recommend this course to others?

Yes – particularly for those involved in process improvement or supporting organisational change.