Liam, a former carpenter, shares how our Software Engineering apprenticeship programme helped him kickstart his tech career, having recently won the 2026 Makers Rising Star Award. A journey that began with evening courses resulted in Liam working on important Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) services like Universal Credit. Find out how DWP Digital is helping people change career and get started in digital roles.
Why I switched from carpentry to software engineering
Before joining DWP Digital I had completed an apprenticeship in carpentry. Although I enjoyed the work, I felt I had reached a roadblock. The only progression available was gaining more experience I began to feel stuck because I enjoy learning and facing new challenges. I wanted a career where I could continue to grow and fulfil my potential.
I enrolled in evening courses at university for the next two years where I completed both a Level 2 and 3 Software Engineering course. During that time, I discovered a real passion for software engineering and realised how much there was to learn. I also felt more engaged working in a field where collaboration and communication mattered, particularly as a deaf user.
Then I saw the Software Engineering apprenticeship with DWP Digital. I thought it would be a long shot, but I applied anyway. I was absolutely over the moon when I was offered the role. From that moment my life changed.
My apprenticeship experience at DWP Digital
From day one I was enrolled in a sixteen-week Makers bootcamp where I learned the foundations of Python and later Java. We worked on small team projects – paired with other cohorts – and received regular feedback from coaches. This provided an excellent foundation for me to join my placement team.
After completing the bootcamp I joined a team working on Universal Credit services. My role involved creating and maintaining parts of the website, incredibly important as Universal Credit supports millions of users. My team have been working on the Open Banking project, which is a link to secured bank information, authorised by the customer, to enhance the user experience. I worked across both frontend and backend code, which I really enjoyed.
As well as coding I learned a huge amount about the complexity and context of large-scale government services. Joining a long-running project was challenging at first. However, my team were incredibly supportive and patient, especially when working with British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters during complex technical discussions.
After 12 months I was promoted and joined another project. My new team focused on helping people transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit. I was challenged in new ways. I had to learn a completely new codebase and gain an understanding of legacy benefits, something I had no experience in. Moving teams allowed me to build new skills, gain confidence and grow as an engineer.
How DWP Digital supported me
The support I received has been outstanding. I had regular catch ups with my Makers coach, who always checked in on how I was doing and whether I needed help. This meant a lot to me not just professionally, but personally too. They were also brilliant at helping me stay on track with deadlines and making sure my portfolio was complete.
My mentor at DWP Digital was equally incredible. He guided me through technical challenges, encouraged my development and pushed me to become a better software engineer.
I experienced imposter syndrome at times. When that happened, I learned to slow down and reflect on how much progress I had made over the previous 18 months. I was often surprised by how far I’d come. The ongoing support from my line manager and mentor was a huge morale boost too and made a real difference throughout my apprenticeship.
After a successful end-point assessment interview covering my portfolio and project, I completed my apprenticeship with a Distinction. I also recently won the Rising Star category at the 2026 Makers Apprenticeship Awards, which I’m incredibly proud of!
What I love most about my software engineering apprenticeship
The best thing about my apprenticeship was the sheer amount of learning opportunities and support available. I was genuinely surprised by how friendly and welcoming everyone in my team was. I felt comfortable being myself and asking questions without feeling judged or overwhelmed.
I loved the fact my day-to-day role meant I was constantly learning and coding. Being paired with different developers across the cohort was a wonderful experience and helped me build confidence and communication skills.
I also gained a lot from writing my apprenticeship portfolio, which helped me develop my theoretical understanding. For my end-point assessment, I built an Interpreting Booking Portal as my final project. That project was incredibly rewarding and taught me so much.
Advice for anyone considering a career change into tech
There will always be people who doubt you and sometimes you may doubt yourself. But if you work hard and stay committed, anyone can achieve their goals. Life involves risks, so don’t be afraid to take the leap and switch careers, even if you think it might be too late.
I was born profoundly deaf, but I’ve never allowed that to hold me back. If you’re from a similar background, seek out and accept the support you need. Never let your disability define your limits.
I truly believe that anyone can do anything if they put in the effort, keep learning and don’t give up on their dreams.