Network Planning Apprentice Review

My role within the company is a Network Expansion Planner. My day to day tasks include planning the Virgin Media Network to new and existing homes all over the south of the UK. Daily tasks include lots of projects which involve a full plan for an area that does not yet have Virgin Media services. this includes many processes from actually planning the cable route to costing up the whole job. daily interactions internally are vital for my role as communication between the team ensures that all tasks get completed and quickly and efficiently as possible with minimal errors. I also need to interact a lot externally whether it be to a contractor or to the local council. this communication is vital to get all the permissions we need to build the network. As a member of the planning south team I am usually responsible for a section of large area and the rest of the team will have there own sections to look after. but in the future different people may go back to those areas for future development. As mentioned earlier projects are a very large part of my role and can last years as they go through all the different departments before they get build. Every day is something new, whether I'm continuing a current job or starting a new one there are always new challenges and scenarios to overcome.

During my time at Virgin Media I have learnt lots of new skills. This is due to the excellent training we receive on any updated to the network. all training is done internally and is specially adapted specifically for Virgin Media making the training very relatable. Personal skills I have learnt include teamwork and confidence. this was achieved by working in a positive environment and being given a lot of responsibilities early on.

The program overall is very good due to the positivity of the team I work with mixed with the variation in the job everyday. the company stand by very good values which helps with motivation. Overall the apprenticeship has met my expectations and has got me very involved with a lot of things that the company is doing.

Overall I feel valued by the company for the work that I do. Every project we do ensures that everyone involved is equally seen to and has all the things we need. When we complete these tasks within SLA and to the highest standard there is a lot of appreciation from management and other colleagues which overall lifts the mood.

While overall good being the first ever Network Expansion apprentices there have been a few issues along the way with organization and structure. This is seen with the coursework we receive as a lot of it has been copied over from a similar apprenticeship Virgin Media offer making not all of it relevant to the roll. But this later has been resolved and is the only complaint. We all have a dedicated day to study on every week and all the training we receive is very good.

There is lots of support from all the training providers within the company. They are always happy to help with any queries you may have and are there to support you at any time. They all have very positive attitudes towards everything thing we do which helps motivate to get all the work done.

Virgin Media as an employer have offered lots of support through things like training and resources. All the teams whether it be Managers, HR or the team you work with all seem to offer endless support when its needed. Overall the attitude towards support is very positive which makes the apprenticeship much more enjoyable.

For an apprenticeship the salary is excellent. It allows me to live, travel and do everything I normally would with a standard job at my age. and with a mid apprenticeship pay rise I cannot complain. to earn a good salary while having all the training resources and gaining a qualification at the end is a real positive and I would recommend to anyone.

So far during the apprenticeship there have been a fair few opportunities outside of the every day. this include volunteering days/charity work and careers events. We also have had a few engagement days with our teams where we do any event of our choosing for the day which is something to look forward to and helps break up the year.

Yes

I would recommend Virgin Media to anyone interested in telecommunications/networking. This is because there is excellent training within the teams and there is lots of support available. you can learn a lot here and still get paid to do it. Overall the company have had a lot to offer and with a lot more new opportunities in the future.

Tips I would give to anyone applying for an apprenticeship with Virgin media include: Making sure in the interview that you show a strong willingness to learn and show a positive attitude. On the first assessment week you will meet all the other apprentices you will be working with. This is a prime opportunity to get to know everyone and build relationships which is vital because you will be working with these people throughout the apprenticeship.