SOCOTEC UK First Apprentice Completes Apprenticeship with a Distinction

How have you found the apprenticeship here at SOCOTEC?

My apprenticeship at SOCOTEC has been a delightful experience and my colleagues have been supportive. I have received thorough on-the-job training and found the apprenticeship programme well structured – it taught me a lot of relevant theory for my role within IT.

What did your programme entail?

My programme was delivered by Baltic Apprenticeships and entailed five modules with an exam after each of them – six assignments followed by an End Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA involved building a portfolio out of the work I had completed and the experience I had acquired.

This included a synoptic project, which involved managing a fake company network and acting as if I was a service desk technician within that company, completing tickets and creating maintenance plans. This concluded with a professional discussion where an assessor asked me about the work that I had completed to see if they could fill in any gaps and build an even better portfolio.

What are your next steps for your career?

My next steps are to complete a Level 4 Network Engineer apprenticeship with Baltic Apprenticeships and remain within SOCOTEC. I've now taken on the position of an Infrastructure Technician, which aligns directly with my role and will teach me more of the relevant theory that sits within my role.

Would you recommend an apprenticeship at SOCOTEC?

I would recommend an apprenticeship with SOCOTEC, I think the business is taking such a proud interest in young talent, along with seeing the potential of the company’s future and because of this people who partake in an apprenticeship with SOCOTEC get all the enthusiasm, theory, knowledge and experience that they could wish for when embarking on a new career. SOCOTEC is a brilliant company to work for as they care about their employees and support them wherever possible. 

What accomplishment you have achieved during your programme are you most proud of and why?

I have achieved a lot during my time at SOCOTEC, from staying on top of my ticket queue as much as possible and taking charge of and completing mini projects with efficiency to completing two Microsoft-recognised accreditations, three course certifications and, last but not least, achieving the overall grade of a distinction. However, I am most proud of my tenacity, persistence, capability to get stuck in and ability to recognise where problems, incidents and requests need to be escalated.

What advice would you give to our current apprentices?

To our current apprentices, I would say that you've made the right choice to get involved with such an established, well versed and considerate company. If ever you need anything, remember that your peers are there to support you and will do so with so much enthusiasm.

What is your new job title and what are your responsibilities?

My new job title is Infrastructure Technician. The main responsibilities that I carry are the maintenance of SOCOTEC's network infrastructure and systems. I also assist in the connection of new sites to the main SOCOTEC network and replacement of old networking equipment.