Trainee Openreach Engineer Review

Creating and maintaining the Openreach network to provide internet connectivity for its customers. This involves installing and jointing fibre optic cable, planning the route of cable, and testing/commissioning the network. This can involve working underground and overhead. I also have to make sure that we follow all health and safety and company requirements.

Yes, everything I have learnt on the job has been new as I did not previously work in an engineering background. I have learnt about road guarding and safety when working underground/overhead. I have learnt how to pull in cable, how to joint copper cables in various methods, how to joint and splice fibre cables together in different installations, how to test network quality.

Its very enjoyable, as Openreach has recruited over 3000 new trainees, it can be a little chaotic and sometimes it is hard to see what the long term plan is for me individually, on a day to day basis it is very enjoyable. The work is challenging but very rewarding.

The academic part of the traineeship is very well structured, we are told exactly what is required of us and have a study day every month in order to write up our assignments. The on the job training is a bit more unstructured as we get sent where there is business need or availability of engineers to teach us.

The employer is very supportive and I know if I have any questions or need any help there is either a manager, nvq assessor, or my teammates who are ready to help. I have had to make changes to my attendance pattern due to childcare and my manager was very helpful and supportive.

Quite a lot, my nvq assessor has set us a study day each month where we can write up our assignments and ask any questions about what is required of us. The list of evidence needed such as photographs is very clear and we are always given time to collect these if we need it.

The qualification gives me a lot of additional information on what is expected of me in the role and the right and proper way that we should be doing things. I have learnt a lot from the assignments in the qualification in addition to my classroom and on the job training.

Yes, our team does have social gatherings and team building events. We also get to attend regular presentations, question and answer sessions and networking events with out current teams and in our apprenticeship groups. This is very useful in building up a network of contacts and staying in touch with other apprentices.

Yes

The company is moving forward and investing in people. The company is only going to grow as the future of broadband changes over the years. They are a very supportive company and only expect you to learn at your own pace, the work is interesting and varied and not as target focussed as other jobs.

I would advise that even if you have no engineering experience, if you are hard working and have transferable skills then Openreach will consider that a strong positive. Be yourself and do your research on the company, there are excellent resources online to ask questions of current engineers and trainees.