Trainee Engineer Review

Turning up to my first job at 8am, finding the plot(s) i'm working on and then begin to carry out my tasks. Tasks include, after completing a risk assessment, installing CBT's, running cables, installing ONT's, installing capping, and also jointing together fibres. I will then commission these plots.

I have learnt a huge amount of new skills. I was previously employed by Asda, so had a lot of customer service and interpersonal skills. However, after joining Openreach and entering into the telecommunications industry, I have learnt about broadband, and more specifically about fibre. I have learnt how to use new tools that I would have never of used before.

I really enjoy my program that I have been chosen to complete. I find the study days useful and helpful when completely my NVQ work. However, I do find a lot of the questions irrelevant to my actual work that I complete in the field, but still enjoyable, and I will be gaining a qualification from it too.

My programme is well organised and very well structured. We are given 10 study days throughout our first year of training, and are given around 13 units to complete all together. 10 study days is plenty of time to complete the work if effort is put into the work. We are given these dates well in advance, so we know when our study days are.

I do receive support from my employer, however I do think it could be better. If I am struggling with something in my job out in the field, then I will ask for advice from my senior engineer. However, he isn't always the best person to ask because he is busy and doesn't explain too well. Therefore, if I don't understand it the first time, I feel I have to figure it out for myself.

I believe I receive a lot of support from my training provider when working towards my qualification. If I send my assessor an email or a text message, he will reply very sharply. He helps me achieve my goals within the qualification, and provides me support whenever I need it.

I feel that my qualification, through my training provider, doesn't help me to perform better at all within my role. The content within the qualification doesn't push me to exceed in my job, as the content that's in the qualifications I have learnt previously. I feel the training I receive in the field has helped me more within my role.

We often have social activities whereby our team will meet up for a social (usually in a local pub to have a catch up), and there is also professional networking events that colleagues can request to sign up to. This helps them network with other employees who they wouldn't usually meet otherwise.

Yes

I would recommend Openreach to a friend because the initial training you receive is brilliant. They pay for you to stay in hotels while you're away training, and also pay for all your meals and travel. You are provided with a company vehicle, and also given all the tools you will need to do the job.

I would advise others that are applying to Openreach to do thorough research into the company, and find out about their history, and also their future fibre plans. It is also important to research into why Health and Safety plays an important role in what Openreach do, as that is one of their core values.