Openreach FTTP SD Engineer Review

I am an OpenReach fibre to the premise engineer for the service delivery department. I connect our customers to our full fibre network which has improved speed and reliability. This involves working on the OpenReach underground and overhead network as well as diagnosing and repairing faults. My job is mobile and I travel all over the Suffolk area.

Openreach have been fantastic with their training and development. We started with a 13 week training period which involved time away from home learning all kinds of new skills. From driving a van to providing, diagnosing and repairing fibre services on the overhead and underground network with an emphasis on health and safety.

I have enjoyed every moment of the programme, it can be a bit daunting at first however there is always a colleague or a guide to help you along the way. My time so far has been one of the best introductions to a large corporate business I have ever experienced.

Although impressed with the structure especially during a pandemic it has at times fallen apart. I've never not known what was going on but there has been last minute changes or times where I don't have all the information and I needed to "go with the flow". It was daunting but for the most part all the learners leant on each other for support.

Openreach have been very supportive. As learners we have regular chats with coordinators, senior staff and management, as well as working with each other. You can expect to be close with those that you go through training with and once your in the field with youll be the same with your buddy and peers. Once settled youll start to see how all engineers on your patch regardless of department are much closer than youd think.

Our training coordinator has been great, we have had 3 workshops so far which have all been well structured and to the point. We can ask for more help if we need however I personally feel best when given the information and being left to my own devices which is exactly what i have got.

The training so far has been focussed a lot on understanding our qualification. However I will say that it has reaffirmed some of our initial training and reminded me of all the resources available to us as engineers. OpenReach does a fantastic job of making sure that no matter where you are you have access to support in the form of a team or a document.

We have a social media platform with groups of all kinds. If you are interested in a sport or an activity of almost any kind, the likelihood is that there is someone else in the business that thinks/feels the same as you. I am sure that if there wasn't already a group for canoeing you could probably start one and find others just like you.

Yes

Even though OpenReach is a large organisation who demonstrates that it has all the resources you could want or need. It doesn't always feel that way, sure there are times where you need information and you have to work to find it but for the most part you are only a phone call away from assistance. You have your team, your team leaders, your managers as well as an array of supporting functions throughout the business. You are supported from the start of your day to the end and you always feel safe at work despite being in an environment that throws so many potentially dangerous situations at you in the very nature of the work. I work in a diverse team where everyone is valued and treated equally. Overall I enjoy my challenging working days and look forward to what the future brings.

Take it all in, don't waste a moment of your training and when you are with senior team members ask as many questions as possible. There is so much experience in the organisation however with the latest recruitment drive the organisation is getting younger. Also don't let the initial doubts scare you, if your climbing poles or going underground it can be scary and all of us have felt what you're feeling at one point or another. Work collaboratively with your colleagues and support each other because one day you'll be the one needing the support. ENJOY!