Rating

8.2/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • I'm a network technician. I working primarily with routers, switches and firewalls on a day to day basis. However this does stretch to support end user systems and servers and devices. I report to the head of service management and handle and process escalations directly with our head of networking.

    9/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • When I first started my apprenticeship I did have a base of knowledge when it came to networking and systems / servers and could handle escalations direct from company directors, however from my apprenticeship I learnt ten fold when it comes to security and the way of thinking of an attacker and defending against threats.

    8/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I enjoy learning about thing that only few know and can implement in their day to day life. I like the be the one in the know and i feel my apprenticeship does that. CyberSecurity is such a niche area which all sectors rely heavily on and I enjoy get ahead.

    10/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • There does sometimes seem to be a disconnect with what I'm told by different people. However the content / teaching is spot on, I do feel there is a lack of direction sometimes and with so many people in the loop but the apprentice themselve I do sometimes struggle with it.

    3/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • We're a very busy company, days can range from no calls to 200 in a day and they vary. There is sometimes a struggle to find the time in work hours to complete my apprenticeship work. However overall I do tend to get the time to complete the work when I need to.

    7/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • I am given week long courses that are instructor lead and these help get a real understanding of the subject and the ability to ask someone who does know what they are talking about really helps with learning. While there are some bits of work that are self guided I am given the oppurtunity for these Virtual courses.

    9/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • I work in a service desk where the majority of tasks are password resets and monitoring and dealing with the day to day troubles of non tech savvy users it's nice to feel like there are things I know and that I'm the person that people go to get more complicated tasks completed.

    10/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • We're a very social bunch however due to COVID we haven't been able to do much, however we have always got together for virtual pub quizes and the odd after hour video calls where we talk for hours about absolute nothing. I'm not sure where I can get 50 words for this question during the time of COVID.

    10/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend Astro Communications Ltd to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • I'm given everything I need to suceed, ultimately any failings can only fall on me other than the odd mis-direction and need for clarification. The majority of the content is available and so are the tutors if needed. If I need an answer to a question I tend to be able to get it without much hassle.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Astro Communications Ltd?
  • Bring it down to the apprentice level. There is a lot of content and a lot of curriculum. Sometimes as IT proffessionals we talk in acronyms which is fine, but if someone is new to the industry it is very easy to be overwhelmed and feel the need to give up.


Details

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Information Technology

Dartford

May 2021

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