Vodafone Degree Apprentice Felicity Bruce poses elegantly for a photograph at the Awards Ceremony.

Case Study - Felicity Bruce

  • Vodafone UK Degree Apprentice
  • Digital and Technology Solutions - Software Engineer

Felicity Bruce’s journey into the world of technology began with a serendipitous discovery.

While clearing out her junk mail folder, she stumbled upon an email inviting her to apply for a Vodafone degree apprenticeship. At the same time, she had already shortlisted five universities: Aberdeen, Nottingham, Queen's Belfast, Liverpool and Queen Mary London. Ironically, she received her acceptance call from Vodafone while touring Aberdeen University.
 

Application Process

The application process for the Vodafone apprenticeship was comprehensive, covering various business aspects. Felicity prepared by watching instructional videos and familiarising herself with the structure, despite having no prior experience in such applications.
 

Professional Experience

Felicity has made significant contributions to the My Vodafone app, including:

  • Native Product Description Page: Enabled users to purchase handsets directly from the app
  • Native Controls and Extras: Allowed customers to add features like spend caps and additional data
  • MyAccount Profile: Provided customers with access to their profile information, including avatars and addresses
  • Analytics Tagging: Implemented tagging to help the analytics team track user interactions with app screens, buttons, and journeys
     

Felicity takes pride in pointing out features she has implemented on friends’ and family members’ phones. Her work has not gone unnoticed, as she has been nominated for the Women in Tech Apprentice of the Year award, with the ceremony set to take place at the Hilton Hotel on 27 November 2024.

Want to follow in Felicity's footsteps?

If you want to know more about this Degree Apprenticeship, please visit our dedicated web page which provides more details for both individuals look to secure a degree apprenticeship and employers who would like to offer this as part of their apprenticeship programme.

Read more about this apprenticeship

  • Additional Contributions

    Felicity also developed the VodaPI mobile app, used by Vodafone employees for quarterly PI planning. The app allows users to view agendas and favourite breakout sessions, enhancing the planning experience.

    Personal Development

    Felicity’s role has provided her with unique experiences, such as travelling to Stoke to listen to real customer service calls and understand customer frustrations with the app. She has also engaged in team-building activities with colleagues from Egypt, including an F1 arcade event. The most surprising aspect of her journey has been the genuine interest and support from her colleagues in her progress and learning.

    Tutoring and Mentorship

    Outside of her apprenticeship, Felicity tutors’ students aged 4-16 in coding and English, demonstrating her commitment to education and mentorship.

  • Future Aspirations

    Felicity aims to become proficient in Android app development and is open to public speaking opportunities to inspire other apprentices. She advocates for more in-person skills workshops and networking events and believes that apprenticeships should be promoted in schools and colleges at the same level as universities.

    Advice to New Apprentices

    Felicity advises new apprentices to take their time and not expect to learn everything at once. With two years of experience, she continues to learn and grow in her role.

    Felicity Bruce’s journey is a testament to the impact and potential of apprenticeships in the digital and technology sector. Her story showcases the importance of seizing opportunities, continuous learning, and contributing to meaningful projects.

Next Steps

If you would like more information about the higher and degree apprenticeships offered in computing at B&FC, please get in touch with Dr Colette Mazzola-Randles.

Email: cmaz@blackpool.ac.uk