Network engineer Review
at BT Group
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Shrewsbury
Review Submitted: March 2021
Overall Rating
3.8 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
3.6/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
my role is a cabling engineer, my role as an engineer is to provide optic fibre cable to business and residential properties underground, if when attempting to do the job there are issues with supplying cable under ground then alternative routes would have to be considered, such as over head
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
I enjoy it as far as the job itself goes but as I am not very good on computers or I was not very good when I started I found the computer and laptop side of things a struggle, and with the covid situation found it very hard working from home.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt a number of new skills, using different rodding techniques such as using the cobra or using hand rods, if the duct is straight then a duct motor can be used, I also went a de silt course, this is very useful for blockages in silty or blocked ducts
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
it seems well structured although as I have no previous experience with computers I found it hard at times, the first week seemed very rushed but very organised, I imagine it is very hard to organise something on this scale with the amount of trainees, so I would say it is done well
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
when I first started nobody seemed to know where I was working but everyone was helpful, on multiple occasions I have sent emails or personally asked for help on my NVQ and said that I was struggling, sometimes I git responses but sometimes not, I have recently moved patches and my new manager has been fantastic and offered me all the help I need.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
the help is always there and there is always someone you can contact for help or guidance even if it means going through a couple of people, my assessor was very helpful but due to the covid restrictions and myself not being very good in IT I found it hard
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
as far as the training goes I feel mixed as I feel some of the work does not really help or is connected to the role I do, but having said that I feel I have come a long way in terms of using my laptop and certain things connected with IT.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
there is social media platform called Workplace we also use Microsoft teams which is a good way of communicating but as for outdoor activities I think I started at the wrong time as we can not really do any social activities, knowing my colleagues as I do I would think there will be once allowed to be.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BT Group to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Openreach is definitely somewhere I would recommend and I have done on a few occasions, as I was told the first 12 months are the hardest and they are but it is worth it, I feel it is a job for life with options to upskill, change roles and try different things.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BT Group?
be yourself, get clued up on the company, show an interest, show you are keen to work and keen to learn, knowing good customer service and health and safety is key, it is a long process to get an interview so be patient and stick with it as the first 12 months can be tough.
