Telecommunications apprenticeships
A major independent provider of professional services to the UK communications sector is boosting its headcount by recruiting 20 new telecommunications apprentices.MAP Group (UK), whose head office is based in Stockton-on-Tees, has welcomed the group of teenagers, including one youngster from the North East – Jamie Mckenzie, 18, from Fairfield in Stockton on Tees.
The move forms part of the company’s strategy to meet the changing needs of its customers, whilst investing in the future skills of its workforce. The company is also expected to boost its Apprenticeship base even further, with as many as 50 apprentices employed across all aspects of MAP’s cabling division within the next three months.
What started out as a small operation in 1993, offering cost effective and efficient electrical installations to the commercial and domestic sectors, has seen MAP grow beyond recognition. A prestigious new 8,000 sq metre office building now plays host to MAP’s headquarters in Teesside.
Roy Fraser, Human Resources Manager, MAP Group (UK) explains: “We aim to be the number one in everything that we do. As a result we have gone from strength to strength and now provide a full range of communications services. This covers cable installation, including fibre optics, and network planning and design, including site surveys and electrical work – providing the full solution for the cable industry.
“To stay ahead of our game, we need to keep pace of an ever-changing communications sector. By taking on our very first group of apprentices, we aim to remain competitive by integrating people into our organisation from a grass roots level and developing them to suit our way of working,” he continued.
MAP was first signposted towards Apprenticeships with the help of the Business Link service in the North East who recognised that MAP would benefit from the Apprenticeship programme.
Business Link advisers, and other intermediaries, work collaboratively with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to increase the number of employers actively engaged with Apprenticeships.
Delivery of Apprenticeships, including advising employers, engaging with learner organisations and providing funding for Apprenticeship training, is the responsibility the NAS. NAS helped MAP to advertise its posts via Apprenticeship vacancies, a web-based system which matches employers with prospective apprentices.
Following the recommendation, MAP chose to work with specialist company, Cablecom Training Ltd, also based in Stockton-on-Tees, which is playing a significant part in providing tailored training for the new recruits.
Roy explains: “Each of the apprentices is a recent school leaver. With that in mind, we didn’t expect them to have a working knowledge of telecommunications. We were keen, however, to find individuals with an interest in IT, the ability to solve problems logically, a great attitude and who wanted to learn new skills.
“To help kick start their careers Cablecom carried out a five-week intensive induction course on our behalf. From here each apprentice has now transferred to training in our workplace with support from an individual mentor, who is closely monitoring their progress. They will also return to Cablecom in two-week blocks to complete technical certificates.
“Thanks to finding the right recruits, the excellent support we’ve received and the structured training programme, each of our apprentices will become fully qualified multi-skilled telecommunications technicians within the next 12 months. In particular, they will have the capability to do a first class job, whether it’s installing, maintaining or altering telecommunications systems, rectifying network faults or organising and monitoring new cabling.
“Importantly, they will also come to understand our values, how they fit into our industry as a whole and how their contribution meets the diverse needs of our customers. In fact, these apprentices are already training to help service a brand new initiative from a major national ‘household name’ in telecommunications media, which provides a technical helpdesk and face-to-face support for its customers,” he continued.
John Wayman, regional director, National Apprenticeship Service, said: “Apprenticeships are designed around the specific needs of employers, whether it’s to train new recruits or existing members of staff. This type of partnership working illustrates how a number of organisations have come together to provide the right advice and support.”
Business Link skills adviser Liz Hall, added: “After assessing the needs of the business it was evident that MAP Group could benefit from partnering with the National Apprenticeship Service. I’m pleased that through this support and working with Cablecom they have been able to take on 20 new recruits to help drive the business forward.
“Apprenticeships can be an effective recruitment tool for businesses and a good way of developing the skills and knowledge of new and existing employees. It is vital that businesses invest in developing the skills of their employees in order to remain competitive and to improve their bottom-line and Apprenticeships can go a long way towards achieving this.”
To find out more about employing apprentices within your organisation, please contact the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or visit the website www.apprenticeships.org.uk
