Rating
- 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
- 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
- 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
- 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
- 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
- 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
- 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
- 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.)
- 9a. Would you recommend BT Group to a friend?
- 9b. Why?
- 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BT Group?
I am currently an apprentice of the Skybox team. We work with different customers and using Skybox we can ensure the customers network is up to date and secure. It is my responsibility to check the platform to ensure tasks ran successfully and if any issue arise they are investigated and solved in a timely manner. I create maintain and close support cases based on the current platform. I speak to the customer on a weekly basis where I can provide updates on any ongoing issues or resolutions.
Before i started my apprenticeship I had extremely limited IT skills. This mainly consisted of basic skills of Microsoft products as I did an A-Level in ICT. Whilst on the apprenticeship I have learnt a lot about networks. I have learnt and was successful in 2 programming languages, C and Java, at University alongside many other things taught. As well as IT skills i have also improved on my soft skills, learning how to effectively communicate with customers, write emails in a clear and concise format and general communication skills based on the recipient.
When i first joined the apprenticeship program I struggled due to my original team not being prepared to take on apprentices and we were often left on our own with no work. I then started to go to university and thoroughly enjoyed this experience. I have met lifelong friends at university and will cherish the memories made there. I have since moved teams and am much more involved operationally and as mentioned now even communicate with customers.
As mentioned, when i started there was little to none organisation / structure to my apprenticeship. I then started my NVQ which gave me something to aim to complete. Then started university which improved my time at BT massively. This gave me some structure and things to work towards. I have found that during my time at BT the operational side of things have always lacked structure. I think it would be much more beneficial if, prior to hiring apprentices, the employer had at least a year plan and an end goal of where they want you to be. Otherwise the apprentices suffer. I have even helped to create a training plan for my current team as well as an assimilation checklist which can be used in the future to help the learning of new apprentices in my team.
I have had multiple managers now but as an average the support provided has always been sufficient. I feel I am quite independent and often find answers for myself, but when needed the person i have asked question of had always been able to help or find someone who could help me.
Whilst at university I thought the majority of the lecturers where helpful in the moment. However it did feel as thought once we had completed a specific week it was too late to go back. Even when i wanted to know where i had gone wrong and what i could have improved upon it seemed as though their attitude was like "why does it matter its done now move on". One or two of the lecturers where more awkward than the rest and made it difficult to approach them for help.
I feel as thought the University degree is very broad and therefore doesn't effectively benefit me in my operational role day to day. However I can understand this as multiple apprentices in many different roles across BT are doing the university degree and therefore it could never be specific to individuals on the course. But in my case no, the university work hasn't helped me in my day to day role.
Yes, there are always events going on. BT offer a good gym membership at the site which i work at which i enjoy and go every day after work. They constantly host events and courses etc which are often offered to myself and other apprentices. I have also traveled for social events such as a Christmas meal and team meetings which helps me to meet my team and network.
Yes
Although I may not have had the best start at BT, i know people who have. I know BT is a good business that invests in their apprentices. I know BT is a larger stable company that offer good job security and good money. There is always opportunities for progression at BT and I know people that have gone from an electrician to a general manager in Cyber Security. Although i don't know if i want to be here forever I do know it is probably the best start I could have had.
I think it's important to throw yourself in to every situation you can. You never know who you may meet or what you might find out. I think its important to keep your options open and take every opportunity you can. Whether that's because you want to find your dream job in BT or simply to enjoy your apprenticeship and life. Life is short, you might as well make the most of the situation.
Details
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Ipswich
February 2020