Apprentice Engineer Review

Starting the morning, picking up a job and travelling to the customer premises or the location of the fault. Start working on the fault and at the end, confirm service with the customer. Also, run a test to ensure the fault has been cleared and is up to standards necessary.

I have learnt many new skills during the training period. This included roads working and guarding, Safely working at heights, as well as other numerous skills involved when working in the network, starting from working on the mdf in the frames, to the cabinets and all the way to the customer.

With regards to the learning portion of the programme, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Learning new skills and further developing my current skills is always meaningful and enjoyable. whilst working out and about, the support provided has always made it easier especially when first starting out, making it a lot easier.

The programme is well organised and structured. Starting off with a week in Yarnfield and then 6 weeks at a local training centre intertwined with 5 weeks total of buddying on different types of tasks. The rest of the year is then filled with coaching visits as well as NVQ days.

The amount of support provided is unprecedented. The training period gets you started with the necessary skills. Once out working alone, there are the buddies whom you have worked with available, the coaches are also available to be called, also, the senior engineers on the patch can also be called.

Support to work towards the qualification is brilliant. The company provides the necessary time for all the required learning. We are given ten days off the tools for NVQ days which gives enough time to complete all the required documents for the NVQ. Time is also provided for all learning home activities

The qualification helps when working out in the field a great deal. The first document completed is always available as guide to working practices out in the field as well as different methods of support available to me. This also helps back up the learning completed on those skills not practiced often

The company does provide a range of extra curricular activities to staff ranging from days out to meals out during the festive period. The days out includes things such as going to the BT towers and other places linked to the company around the country. Overall, there is a large range of activities.

Yes

The level of support available on the job and the fact that you are gaining a valuable qualification on the job. This makes it a valuable opportunity for anyone looking for a long term career in the telecom industry with a wide range of products from copper phone lines to full fibre networks

Always keep an open mind when applying and be aware that it is a physical job. The fact that you will be out and about working will put you through various different situations. This means dealing with and working in bad weather conditions as well as possibly not very happy customers