Activation Technical Build Engineer Review

My role involves me heading out to new sites, where Virgin Media are installing their services to reach new potential customers, and building/testing/commissioning the distribution points (DP's) before they are released to sales. I have constant contact with my own team as communication is vital when gathering test results from different areas of the network. I have a responsibility to work in an effective, but also safe manner and gain all the necessary qualifications required to carry out the job role (through training). It's also important to stay on top of all upcoming projects in my area so I can stay informed and update my calendar accordingly.

Before starting this apprenticeship in Sept 2020 I was working in a management role in hospitality, therefore I had to adapt quickly to a new working environment, as well as take on new skills to complete my work effectively. Along the way I have gained more and more technical skills, communication skills and methodical thinking skills, all of which has played a huge role in allowing me to become a more competent ATB engineer. Since the beginning I have attended many 'health and safety' related courses that have helped me gain all necessary understanding and qualifications. These consist of NRSWA (street works), PIA (ability to work safely in the Openreach network) and ECS (showing competency to work safely on newbuild sites). These courses are a mix or internal and external, but it was down to me to organise time out of my working week to attend this training and achieve these qualifications. Since taking on this role I have learnt how telecommunication networks work, how different teams interact and work together to offer the best possible services to a customer, the importance of safe working at all times and the aims & goals of Virgin Media and how a young, eager and passionate apprentice like me can be an asset moving forward in his career.

I enjoy the work that I do, Virgin Media is a very good company to work for as they always treat their employee's as a number 1 priority. The hard work that I put in doesn't go unnoticed and the benefits are very rewarding, which motivates me even more. I am lucky to be working around a team full of experienced heads, all of which come from different backgrounds which has been extremely useful for me in my development. Everything from the company culture to the values and goals of the company has met my expectations and I am extremely happy working for Virgin Media.

Overall, I would say this specific apprenticeship programme has been structured very well. I had a day at the very start which outlined my development expectations for Virgin Media, they outlined which training would be necessary moving forward and the best ways for attaining those qualifications, it was clearly pointed out which engineers would be classed as my mentors and how to contact them if needed. With the addition of a training provider, ESTIO, Virgin Media have been very understanding and flexible in allowing me to have time throughout the month to devote to study and coursework time which was a key benefit to the structure for me. Weekly meetings have been a regular occurrence between me and my line manager which has gave me to time to discuss a variety of things (ie: strengths and weaknesses, areas for improvement). The organisation and structure of the programme has also allowed me to become more of an asset to the team as my growing competency has allowed me to show my ability to take on more responsibility as time has progressed.

My mentors have always been on hand to offer support, training or knowledgeable assistance where I required it. Nothing was ever too much to ask and I have them to thank for my progression so far. My manager has always touched based with me on a regular basis as a chance to discuss any concerns or queries I may have. Virgin Media also offers a variety of support for different matters, with quick and effective responses to any problems that I report (whether that be related to training courses, IT issues, travel issues or uniform and equipment queries). All in all, Virgin Media offers a very welcoming and supportive environment where all employees are happy to assist one another where necessary to get work completed effectively and meet the goals of the company.

I have regular check-ins with one of the additional skill coaches at ESTIO. They are always able to provide answers to any questions I've got, outline the next steps in my approach towards apprenticeship completion and give informative updates on where I stand moving forward with training, portfolio work and additional study. This specific individual seems very enthusiastic in his role and goes above and beyond to ensure I have the support and backing to go as far as possible in pursuit of my dream career.

The training that has been provided by ESTIO has not been that effective in helping me perform better in my job role. The in depth look at networking (provided in the training sessions) has only came as a chance to gain additional qualifications. Being a build engineer, the criteria that has been covered throughout my apprenticeship has not been as useful to me as it would be say to a Network Engineer Apprentice, who would be more exposed to the type of stuff that is covered in training criteria.

My team in particular always have a social gathering around Christmas time where we can enjoy some time away from the work environment and celebrate the festivities and our achievements throughout the year. We also have 5 (paid) voluntary days throughout the year where (as a team) we have the chance to give back to the community by assisting with some work that would go along way for their specific business.

Yes

Overall, the opportunities are endless. Moving forward, VM 02 have huge plans and goals which will be exciting to be apart of. Apprentices are always treated as the future of the business and therefore, they are treated with the upmost respect, with development being the key priority. There is a very welcoming atmosphere around the company, with solutions to every issue, opportunities to be part of continuous company growth and chances to become self-proud of many achievements.

When it comes to the application process, it is safe to say the Virgin Media never over look any candidate's, so with that in mind my only advice would be to be yourself. Interviews were always seen as a daunting task for me but I will always remember my interview with Virgin Media as being one of the calmest scenarios I've been in, everyone was so understanding and supportive, therefore my advice would be to not get too worked up and try not to overthink too much. My assessment day came all rolled into one, with a 1-to-1 interview and a group task included. My advice here would be to use the time you have wisely, don't over think the tasks set too much and never be afraid to speak up if there is something you are unsure about. Experience, like in every job you apply for, is a massive bonus as it shows a good baseline of understanding already. However, it's not the end of the world if that's not the case for you. Myself, along with many other apprentices I communicate with on a regular basis, have all come from completely different backgrounds with no engineering experience. Virgin Media have offered us all a great amount of opportunities to develop our understand bit by bit until we got to the point where we all are today. Competent, trustworthy and qualified.