Telecom field operative level 2 Review

I am a Trainee Engineer in Service Delivery, Focusing on delivering Fibre to The Premises. This includes fitting new drop wires from a telephone pole to a customers house, Or rodding a new cable underground from a junction box to the customer premises. I will also fit fibre cables inside people's homes and splice the cables together to get peoples broadband working on their new fibre line. I will also look into fault fixing and fixing peoples internet issues.

I have learnt a lot of new skills. I came from an office background, so I have learnt how to safely use power tools, how to safely check and use ladders, both on the pole and the house. How to climb a pole safely, using the correct safety techniques, and how to secure a ladder to both a pole and a house correctly, ensuring it doesn't fall. I have learnt how to lift up underground boxes safely, how to guard the box on the floor to ensure pedestrians are safe and how to check for gasses underground. I have learnt how to rod through ducts as well. I have learnt how to arrange road closures and road works/guarding to ensure both my safety and the road users safety as well. I have learnt how to Splice two cables together and how to sort internal and external wiring, making it look tidy and also ensuring the customers wires are not damaged. I have learnt how to fit a drop wire correctly and safely, using all the relevant equipment provided, and the safety procedures involved and ensuring we have to correct height over a road where applicable.

I am enjoying the role massively. Every day is different and there is a lot of problem solving which keeps your brain busy. Some days are harder then others but there is always producers in place so someone can lend a hand if needs be. I have learnt a lot and feel a lot more confident in myself since starting, meeting new people everyday. Openreach teach you everything you need to know and ensure you are ready to work on your own before sending you out to jobs on your own.

The programme is very well organised. I started on a 6 week training course. Week 1 is an introduction into your role and an overview on openreach as a company and what they expect from you. After this you have 5 more weeks of training, learning what you will be doing day to day. This involved in underground training and safety procedures. Road works and guarding, pole steps and ladders, drop wire course and lastly how to splice wires correctly. Before being sent out buddying to learn on the job with an experienced engineer.

A lot. There are managers and other employees that are always contactable from day to day, they also have programmes where you can speak confidentially to someone about home life problems etc. No one makes you feel stupid and they are all happy to lend a hand where needs be.

A lot. There are booked workshops to help go through what we need to do to achieve our qualifications and other employees are happy to help you with it as they have been through the same thing. The managers will always be there to help with any questions as well.

The qualification helps massively as I am changing career completely. It helps me understand the processes needed to successfully and safely work in the real world, ensuring both mine, and the general publics safety, and that all work I do is up to a high standard needed to ensure there are no issues with my work.

Yes, a few of the engineers in different areas play sports with each other and week nights and weekends. There are also events and live streams on our own workplace where everyone can join and feel included in what is going on at the moment and any further updates moving forward.

Yes

You do not need any experience, they will teach you everything you need to know and understand you might learn slower then others. they are always there to guide you through and make you feel welcome, even if you are slower than the others at getting the work done correctly.

Do it, there are so many perks working for the company, they teach you everything you need to know, and even after the training, the managers and experienced engineers will always help you. I came from an office background with no hands on experience and I have learnt so much in the first few months and feel confident in any work situation now.