Network Capacity Planner Review

My role is all about planning for the future as I am a network capacity planner. This involves collecting data on how the network traffic is holding up and where it may need more capacity. My role then determines what may need to be put in place for it to then be handed over to design.

There are some new skills which I have learned so far in this apprenticeship. Firstly I have gained a much better understanding of networking as a whole and it has helped me to develop existing problem solving skills. This is because when you are dealing with a network with as many customers as there are then a small problem could be bad for the company.

Although entering such a large company can be difficult, I have enjoyed the apprenticeship and what it has to offer so far. This is because it involves facing many new challenges which helps me to improve my existing skills and acquire new ones. It also allows me to visit many places which I never knew existed which is very interesting.

From the beginning the apprenticeship has been very well organised and structure in that we know exactly what we were doing. However the training providers themselves were less organised due to continuously shifting dates and sending emails that we had to ignore. Virgin Media themselves however have a good plan that has been followed.

If I am struggling with something I can ask anyone within my team for help and they know exactly what to do and how to help. As I was completely new to this area I received a lot of support to help get me going and complete day to day tasks whilst learning elsewhere to get more experience.

My team are always asking how they can help in working towards my qualifications such as the CCNA, so the support is always there when I am struggling. I am able to ask them any questions and they will always have the answer. They can also help to set up some real life examples to help me get exposure to the real working environment.

I feel that my qualifications help a lot to perform better in my role. I have just recently completed the training for the CCNA and it has helped me to understand all of the different terms and processes that I may and have come across within my role at Virgin Media.

There are many different activities to get involved in around Virgin Media. They are very big on engaging activities such as a bake off in which people bake cakes and try to win a competition. In addition to this there are also many opportunities to visit different sites to get a better understanding and appreciation of the network.

Yes

I would recommend a friend to this apprenticeship because there are a lot of opportunities to explore within the company. For someone who is interested in IT it s a perfect way to start as the company is very friendly and engaging which you may not always find somewhere else.

I would advise that people applying to Virgin Media do their research on the company. Especially on the company values and goals. This is because Virgin Media as a whole is big on engagement within the office and so if you can show that you can be someone who works well with others and understands the companies goals then you may do well.