TV Apprentice Review

As an avid watcher of BT Sport, it is amazing to be able to see what goes on behind the scenes. I have had the chance to see how media content is encoded for broadcast as IP TV and have had a chance to visit the studios as well. My role is so varied so I will often be working with a variety of teams. It is refreshing to see what goes on and I am keen to see even more.

Coming into an industry with little to no knowledge of how a network operates, I have learnt from the ground up. I have a working understanding of the hardware and software requirements to operate IP TV at BT. Alongside my university degree, I have found the study and work combination to be mutually beneficial, with my studies benefitting from my work and vice versa. My skillset is constantly increasing and I am loving the learning experience.

I enjoy my programme a lot. There are always opportunities to learn more about the environment and technology as a whole. Everyone I have worked with is friendly and forthcoming when I make a request for help. This is fundamentally important - as someone who is new to this working environment, it is essential to be able to learn the ropes quickly and efficiently. The work study balance is also a factor that I enjoy a lot.

I have a tutor who monitors my performance both at work and throughout my studies. This helps to tie everything all together and creates an all-encompassing experience. It also ensures I rotate to different platforms throughout the course of my apprenticeship and obtain as much exposure to the company as possible. Additionally, I know that if I am struggling for any reason, I can tell my tutor and they will be able to do something about it.

I receive a lot of support at my level. This primarily comes from my assessor and immediate managers. However, it would be nice to be able to have some exposure to some of the higher managers and directors. This would provide an opportunity to network within BT and get to know some of the other departments within the Technology sector. I am hopeful that these opportunities will come in due course as I progress with my apprenticeship.

We get all the time necessary to complete our studies. We get day release to complete university studies, although university work is primarily done from home at the moment due to COVID-19 arrangements. We are given plenty of time to study for assignments. In addition, if we are struggling, we can get more time to complete studies in exceptional circumstances. We are also encourages to obtain vendor accreditations to bolster our portfolios of experience and increase further job prospects internally.

I believe the qualification gives a decent overview of network testing and infrastructure. In addition to this, there are also modules that focus on the mathematics of computer science and also learning to code in languages including Python and Java. I can then take this knowledge back to my place of employment and apply it as part of my daily role. We are encouraged to push the boundaries with our knowledge and get involved with individual projects. University study assists with this aspect.

There are opportunities to promote the apprenticeship to sixth forms and colleges. I have been involved at employment fairs and technology fairs where I have promoted the BT apprenticeship and answered questions. Since COVID, we have not been able to physically attend these events, but I have had the opportunity to lead virtual tours and answer questions about the apprenticeship programme. I feel happy to have had the opportunity to give something back to BT.

Yes

BT has given me some amazing opportunities and I know that everything they are doing to help me now is setting me up for a very long and happy career within the company. They pay for the programme of study and put you on a proper wage as opposed to an apprentice wage. This shows to me that they care very deeply about their apprentices and see them as the future life blood of the company.

There are so many programmes available and it is worth finding out which one is for you. However, any programme you decide to apply for offers a unique chance to get into a huge technology company. Even if you are unsure about a career in technology, the apprenticeship programme offers so many opportunities to grow internally and it will set you up perfectly for your future career. I would even recommend going to BT over going from college to university.