2nd Year Advanced Apprentice - Dynamic Networks Review

On a day to day basis my role consists of having to plan various jobs for other colleagues within the business at this current moment I am working on upgrading various networking cables around the country so the general public can have faster internet. While doing this role I have to use various Microsoft Office tools and many internal systems.

Since starting at BT I have learnt many new skills, such as how to work in a proficient manner and stick to various time scales, as unlike previous jobs projects I work on have a definitive end date - meaning the work has to be completed by then. Along with this I have also developed my already existing skills such as being able to communicate and work effectively within a team and having to be proficient in various systems such as Microsoft Office and internet systems.

Since joining the apprentice program at BT I have enjoyed it immensely, the whole structure of the apprenticeship is based around meeting new people and building connections for life all around the country. And I believe I have done this with the people I work with on a daily basis and various others whom I have met while training or volunteering. I also believe that the training on offer has been extremely enjoyable and the way it is carried out and the support available is perfect.

the programme is very well structured, with the training being split over two different things, the BTEC which is carried out off site at an external training facility and the NVQ which is carried out within working hours in the office. Having these two different qualifications in such drastic locations is a perfect way to not get confused between the two, as there is a clear difference. Along with this the progression within the apprenticeship is extremely well structured, with clear wage increments twice a year and many opportunities to volunteer and assist with the new starters every year.

The support on offer at BT is unparalleled. As there are many places we can go for answers, to start there is your Line Manager who is the first point of contact for any questions regarding the job in general and your future within BT. Then there is the apprentice coach, who can answer any questions regarding the BTEC or the NVQ, there are meetings with them every 6 weeks or so to ensure you are kept up to date. Then for more personal issues there is the employee assistance page where you can speak to someone in confidence about issues either at work or at home, allowing you to carry on working effectively.

within BT we have lots of support from the training provider - as it is BT - there are many people we can go to for questions, the first would be the apprentice coach as they see you through the entire 3 years and understand every aspect of it. alternately when carrying out the BTEC qualification externally there are many lecturers who have all the answers you could possibly need.

having the knowledge to back up the role is essential within BT, as we do very technical things within our role knowing what our button clicks behind the screen do in the real world is a very important aspect, and the training we are provided enforces this greatly, and allows for a wider understanding of the role.

Since joining BT there have been a handful of activities that were provided out of working hours, these were things such as going to play mini golf or going out for a meal. All of these allow for a closer bond between your team and colleagues, in turn allowing you to work better in the workplace. Along with this there are also many things to do within working hours, the most notably volunteering to help out the new starters, or going for 3 days with the 81st Comms regiment of the Army, who work extremely closely with BT, all of these allow for team bonding.

Yes

The main reason why I would recommend BT as a great place to work and get an apprenticeship is the fact that the support and qualifications on offer are unrivalled in their quality. Along with this the chilled out working environment as well as the amazing apprentice wages are all a factor in making BT an enjoyable and worthwhile place to work.

For any person applying for BT the one piece of advice I would give would be just be yourself, as that is the main thing they will look for, people who can be themselves and have the drive to complete work the highest quality possible. And not to be intimidated by the large scale of the company, as the communication methods on offer soon make the business seem very small as everyone is contactable in a heartbeat. I would recommend everyone to apply if they ever get the chance.