From apprentice to first line engineer – build a future with Communicate

This week is the 15th annual National Apprenticeship Week, a week where businesses and apprentices celebrate the impact apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the economy.

The theme for this year is ‘build the future’, reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and businesses to develop a talented workforce that is equipped with future-ready skills.

To celebrate the theme we spoke with our first apprentice here at Communicate, Jordan Woollett who started his career with us in 2017.

Why did you decide to choose the apprentice route rather than university?
“University didn’t appeal to me, I wanted to find a job that I could combine working and studying, and the apprenticeship route enabled me to do that.”

How did you find your apprenticeship, was it difficult?
“It was difficult doing online courses, but there was an instructor that helped me. Chris, Joe and Dave from Communicate really supported me through it.”

What would you say to anyone thinking about doing an apprenticeship?
“An apprenticeship is such a good route to go down, they allow you to gain first-hand experience in what you want to do and sets you up for a career in your chosen industry.”

Would you recommend an apprenticeship?
“Yes! By going down the apprenticeship route it provided me with the building blocks to start a career within the IT industry instantly, without having to go to university and the task of finding a job that would provide me with a career in the field.”

Do you have any advice for people looking to do an apprenticeship in your field?
“I found self-studying in my own time helped a lot, especially with the coursework side of it.”

Did you choose the apprenticeship route to receive training or for a career in the industry?
“I chose to follow an apprenticeship path for a career in the IT industry. IT was always something I was interested in, and I knew I wanted a career in the field, and an apprenticeship was the best route to follow my career plan.”

Did you receive the relevant skills for your career/future by completing an apprenticeship?
“Absolutely! Both the apprenticeship provider and Communicate have given me the right skills and tools to progress in my career. I’ve learnt so much from my colleagues and their support and training has been vital in my success.”

What’s your role now and how far have you come since completing your apprenticeship?
“Over the last five years at Communicate, I completed my Level 3 apprenticeship in IT Support and became a junior infrastructure engineer. I decided to continue with a Level 4 apprenticeship to gain more knowledge in my field and I finished my course last year, which helped me progress to a first line engineer. I currently assist with everyday support issues that come through the service desk and I hope to gain more responsibility and move up to second line engineer.”

Jordan is an asset to Communicate and it’s been a pleasure to watch him grow within our team over the last five years. We are strong advocates for apprenticeships and have seen seven apprentices qualify and build a career across our offices in the Tees Valley, Leeds and Kent.

If you’re looking to start a career with Communicate, we currently have an apprenticeship opportunity at our Wynyard office – apply here.