This week is National Apprenticeship Week and Plusnet is celebrating having recently created 31 apprenticeship roles within the customer service division. The awareness week, is coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The objectives of National Apprenticeship Week 2014 are to:
- Increase awareness, understanding and demand for Apprenticeships
- Celebrate Apprenticeship talent, skills, achievements and successes
- Promote all Apprenticeship levels and progression routes, including Traineeships
The apprenticeship roles at Plusnet are within the customer service division. The roles exist within business sales, billing and technical services across both Sheffield and Leeds sites. The recruits, aged 18-26, are not only gaining on-the-job training but are studying for a variety of qualifications including Information Computing Technology (ICT), Personal Finances Services, NVQ and BTech qualifications. Andrea Kilgour said:
“This is really exciting and reflects our commitment to supporting talent in this region. The decision to embark on an apprenticeship scheme is to secure highly skilled employees for the future and as a telecoms company, gain valuable insight from a generation who has never lived without the Internet and is on the pulse of developments within this sector.”
Now hear from some of the apprentices themselves... Nemo Carlisle, aged 25 from Harrogate, joined Plusnet’s Leeds office, on an apprenticeship scheme, in January this year and works as a Technical Advisor. In his role, he is studying towards a NVQ Level 3 & BTEC Level 3 in Customer Service and Functional Skills Level 2 in Information technology. Nemo says,
“I wanted the opportunity to study towards a qualification and earn at the same time. Plusnet appealed to me as fresh, dynamic company on the up-and-up. “I want to get as far as I can go and the opportunity to achieve a decent qualification within this company feels like a good start.”
Katie Crumpton, aged 20 from Rothwell in Leeds joined Plusnet in January this year. Katie works as a Technical Support Advisor and is studying for an Advance Apprenticeship in Customer Service level 3 which includes the following qualifications: NVQ level 3, BTEC Level 3, and Functional Skills level 2 in IT. Katie said,
“I wanted to be able start from the bottom and learn everything about the company and my role. On this scheme, I get a qualification at the end while establishing myself in the business by learning everything I can, and this is also an opportunity for me to grow as a person. “In the future, I would like to specialise in a certain area of the business becoming a Team Leader or Manager.”
James Summers, aged 18 from Chesterfield joined Plusnet in October last year. He works as a Billing Administrator and is studying towards and NVQ providing Financial Services Credit Management. James said:
“After completing my A-Levels last summer, I decided at the time that university wasn’t for me and that I preferred to get some advanced work experience. I also liked the idea that I would be gaining further qualifications and earning at the same time. “When the opportunity to join Plusnet came about, I jumped at the chance as I felt that being part of well respected and well known organisation would look good on my CV and give me great foundation to start with. “I thought it would also give me some valuable experience as well as knowledge to take with me in my future life. With joining the billing department, I could learn more about customers payments, debt procedures and the stages that customers go through when they are in failed payment status.” “Gaining an apprenticeship at Plusnet is great; it gives a good platform for me to build on, offers great opportunities in the business and is giving me valuable experience in the working world.”
Gareth Thompson, aged 23 from Barnsley, joined Plusnet on the apprenticeship scheme in November 2013. He works as a Technical Support Advisor and is studying for a Advance Apprenticeship in Customer Service level 3. Gareth said,
“I wanted a change of career and the benefits of this scheme at Plusnet are plenty; gaining qualifications at the same time as new job skills, the support from fellow workers, future career prospects within the company the free lunch every day too! “I would like to find a management role at Plusnet in the future.”