Higher Apprentice - Networks Review

My role generally involves monitoring the network for issues, and doing my best to fix them with the knowledge BT has helped me gain. I tend to focus on the service monitoring side of things, which means I look for problems before they affect the wider network. I work closely within a team who are always happy to help me to carry jobs out.

I have learnt a variety of skills whilst working at BT as a Higher Apprentice, such as how to perform successful quality of experience checks, and handle tickets on the system. I can also work closely with engineers on the phones to perform jobs cooperatively, and ensure that BTs networks run smoothly.

I would say that the highlight of my programme is the people I work with - they are all generally very helpful and fun, and entertaining to work with. They keep the day from being dull. The work itself I am not too passionate about, and that's my main stumbling block.

My programme seems well structured from the outside looking in, but once inducted into BT it becomes clear that a lot of the apprenticeship feels like it is being made up on the spot, which I'm sure isn't the case but more structure would be appreciated by many of the apprentices.

I receive lots of support from my line manager and the apprentice coordinator. There are regular team meetings with the other first year apprentices and Skype calls where we can ask any questions we might have about the programme, and we always have opportunities to discuss any problems in a private setting if we need to.

In terms of receiving support from the University of Suffolk, I would say that support is present but is lacking in some areas. We are in university 1 day per week, and this consists of two lectures which are 3.5 hours long. We are also able to email our tutors should we face any issues, but it generally feels like we're left to fill out quizzes week after week.

So far I haven't found that there has been much cross over between the university content and the work I do on a daily basis at BT. This is subject to change of course, but currently I have not found that anything I have learnt has come in useful when performing my role.

There are an abundance of extra-curricular activities to get involved in at BT. For example, at Adastral park there are numerous clubs and societies that you can choose to join. The apprentices also organise their own gatherings, and what happens at these events is entirely up to the apprentices themselves.

Yes

I would recommend BT to a friend because it is a good company to work for; there is room for advancement and plenty of opportunities to get involved in many different initiatives. I would stress the importance of having an interest in computing or networks though, as without this interest the job could be quite arduous.

I would advise anyone applying to BT to make sure that they just be themselves during the assessments and to not make any false promises, as they will more than likely only be making these to themselves. I would also say that they should take a good, hard look into the role they are applying for to make sure it really is for them.