Information Management - Infrastructure Review

I started off my apprenticeship in the ISOps team (Infrastructure Service Operation Analyst) which involves me carrying out service request from users across London. This involves me doing admin based modification to user’s profiles such as installing specific software, granting share drive access, making new user accounts and much more. Some service requests require us to contact the users directly which is exciting as it makes you realise you are doing something to improve the service of TfL. What I love is if I get a service request which I need help with, I simply go to the area that deals with what I need help with and ask. For example if I receive a request to archive the user’s emails using the Enterprise Vault, I would go to the messaging team a couple of rows down and ask them how to do this where they will happily assist me in learning and carrying out this request. We all work collaboratively to keep London moving in all aspects.

A lot of skills are learnt inside and outside of the area you are placed in - that is the greatness of TfL. It doesn't matter where you are based, you will pick up all kinds skills in various ways, even if it is overhearing a different department speaking about their work. One skill that is developed in the ISOps Team is confidence skills as sometimes you need to phone the user to carry out service requests..and even the confidence to do the task on the computer. Outside of the placement one skill that is developed is presentation skills as a group object we have is to present our IM scheme to local schools.

Me coming straight from college into the world of apprenticeship I could not have asked for a better start. Everything has fit in so well and have learnt so much in the short time I've been at TfL. Everyone is willing to help me whenever I pose a question. There are so many opportunities inside and outside of my department to learn and gain understanding it. This whole scheme exceeded my expectation greatly

Some would say because you're an apprentice you would be treated different. No, not at TfL. At TfL all apprentices are on treated on the same level as everyone else which complies with our Fair & Consistent behaviour. As an apprentice I know I am part of something big, to keep London active and moving. Huge amounts of support is available everywhere such as regular 1 to 1s with managers.

From the first week I started I understood how I fit in to the wider TfL - how my work and the work of others can impact Londoners. This is important as it makes your realise how big of a role you have in TfL. Everything is well organised as we have regular 1-2-1s with our placement managers, line managers and graduate mentors. Any questions we may have we can ask them at anytime too.

We are currently the first year apprentices to experience the switch in training providers. The college seem to offer support...

Regular 1-2-1s are held by my line managers, placement manager and graduate mentors. In these sessions we can see how we have developed from the last time we met, what to do next and can raise any issues that we may have. Even outside of these sessions, if anything bothers us we can approach anyone at anytime. There is no lack of support from anyone - everyone is willing to help!

If learning and working at TfL wasn't enough, apprentices here get paid too! TfL offer London living wasge to apprentices so the salary we earn meets our costs very well. Defnitely have more pay left in the end than I used. Also if we hit our yearly objectives set by our line managers we get a pay rise.

There are tons of opportunites outside of the work placement. Even though your placement may be in one thing, you are accessible to all events that are sent to you. We also do something called flexi-placements which means going away from our desks and experiencing a different part of TfL. We can also attend any meetings that are sent to us which is great to learn and understand different areas within TfL. There are never ending opportunities at TfL!

Yes

TfL is a great company that values every single worker. You can be part of actually making a change to Londoners life as you are in fact making London move by your work - that is a big thing! TfL support you right from the begining of your apprenticeship. There are endless learning opportunities and everyone is willing to help. Any issues or problems you might have you can approach anyone and they can explain regardless if it's work related or not. Even if your placement is in one place the greatness of TfL is you can still learn about different departments. You can do this by simply sitting with a colleague in another area and listening to what they do. Also one of TfL's behaviours is collaboration - a great way to explain this is if I have a service request which i don't understand, I would simply go to the relevant team who deals with that problem and ask them how to do it. Everyone is more than happy to help me with any problems.

Make sure you have the drive and paassion to learn! This whole scheme is to learn and development your own knowledge, make sure this is apparent. Do well on the assessments and prepare for the interview. The interview is a competency based interview which means they ask you about previous experiences. Dont worry! TfL understand you may not have that much experience as this is an apprenticeship. It doesn't matter if you have come straight from college either! just think of experiences from all aspects of your life, inside college or from outside activity. Things such as "describe a time you had to deal with a difficult situation".