Trainee Engineer Review
at BT Group
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Worthing, West Sussex
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
3.6 /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
4/5
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Skills Development
3.4/5
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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:
4/5
My role is to install fibre within the telecommunications infrastructure, to include working in the underground network, or overhead. Working within end users homes installing equipment, or finding faults where applicable.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy using my hands, learning about the network and the ways it works. I would like to go further back and understand more that just the CBT to the ONT. I would have liked more time with someone supporting me in areas such as drilling, what to look for and where to drill when the Bosch locator is flashing.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
All skills around engineering, installation and working within the network are new skills due to having a completely different background from before. Areas such as customer service, understanding of regulations around GDPR, employment law and using systems are all known.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
I would prefer it to be faster in completion or let those who are able move through the programme faster. The job is a 'hands on' role and having more opportunities to buddy up would have been useful. I appreciate it is also impossible to teach 'everything' in the role
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
I have told I will receive some support around drilling, but that is yet to happen. I put in a verbal request around 3 weeks ago and a request via the HR system one week ago. It would be nice to give apprentices more opportunities to be supported rather than worrying about the workstack.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
It is still early days, my assessor is happy for me to just upload written work and evidence when I like. We have had one 1:1 session where we were able to talk about concerns and worries, which I felt was really beneficial. Having more of those opportunities would be great and Im sure they are due to happen
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Only having one lesson, I am not sure yet. The lesson was more an introduction to the standards and what we should expect over the 1 year - 18 months. I look forward to seeing what the lessons and the lesson structure brings to my role and out in the field.
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
I don't think this is a thing? I have asked around and been told that it doesn't happen for people like me; a new recruit. Even though COVID is a huge factor I have been told there still isn't events like this - things such as the team is too big, employees live too far apart and we all work different hours so it wouldn't be logical.
I have even asked to take on additional responsibilities but told New recruits can not do such things.
I have even asked to take on additional responsibilities but told New recruits can not do such things.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BT Group to a friend?
No
Why?
The feeling of being just a number, not being considered for opportunities based on my time within the business and not my abilities.
Upsetting team members because I have a desire to grow and excel in my role, so completing too many jobs or doing extra work or taking on CBTs via learning home, seems to go against the grain and get you noticed for the wrong reasons.
Upsetting team members because I have a desire to grow and excel in my role, so completing too many jobs or doing extra work or taking on CBTs via learning home, seems to go against the grain and get you noticed for the wrong reasons.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BT Group?
That you do not have a choice what role you are given, roles aren't given by any clear reasoning. On my first week training at Yarnfield I met people who were given chief engineer roles who have never done anything like this before. I would have liked to have the same opportunities as I hold qualifications higher than this apprenticeship and skills such as management that could be better used elsewhere.
During the interview I was told I could speed through my qualification if I wanted, turns out; I can't.
I honestly believe the role I was given was due to my gender and the imagine Openreach are trying to stride for
During the interview I was told I could speed through my qualification if I wanted, turns out; I can't.
I honestly believe the role I was given was due to my gender and the imagine Openreach are trying to stride for
