Former Arqiva apprentice
Emma Plumnowworks full time
for the company as a Power
Systems Technician
THE CHANNEL
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ISSUE 1 2015
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47
he broadcast technology
industry provides a working
environment like no other.
Dynamic, fast-moving and
varied, the knowledge and skills
required can be difficult to replicate
in a university library or lecture
theatre. Climbing a 300 metre mast
to maintain an antenna, building
an on-demand video player from
scratch or dealing with aggressive
hawks that have converted a TVmast
into a man-made eyrie can only be
learned on the job. Apprenticeships
are a great way to provide the
practical skills and experience you
need to solve problems and keep
our TV and radio services on air.
The on the job training element
of apprenticeships, under the
tutelage of experienced mentors,
speeds up the learning process,
grows confidence and quickly
enables apprentices to start making
a contribution to their teams and
the business, especially beneficial
in an industry so complex and
which is constantly adapting to
new technology and changing
customer requirements.
THEVALUEOFAPPRENTICESHIPS
Until recently, the typical story for
many was to go from school to
university. As university places have
become more competitive, the cost
of student living increased and
tuition fees shot up, university is
not an automatic choice for many
any more. Supported by Government
investment in apprenticeship
schemes, employers increasingly
see the value of apprenticeships.
And the draw of paid employment
while gaining a recognised
qualification, has meant school-
leavers themselves are now seeing
other ways to start their career.
At Arqiva, we embraced the
world of apprenticeships for the
first time in 2008 and recognise the
value they bring to the company.
We guarantee apprentices a
permanent job after three years of
work and study, all while they are
learning and working alongside
some of the most experienced
minds in the broadcast industry.
One of our former apprentices,
Emma Plum, now works full time
as a Power Systems Technician,
maintaining the power supplies
and systems which enable Arqiva’s
services to operate.
During her apprenticeship,
Emma gained practical experience
working with our regional
operations team, while at the same
time studying a BTEC National
Certificate in Telecommunications.
She has since completed a City and
Guilds qualification in Electrical
Systems and is now a key member
of our engineering team. Emma is
currently studying towards an
electrical installation qualification
in her spare time. At Arqiva we do
our best to ensure employees
continue to get the training and
support they need to develop.
LONG TERMCOMMITMENT
Despite the positives,
apprenticeships are not an
infallible solution to filling suitable
positions in the broadcast
technology industry. For the
employer, apprenticeships present
a far more long term commitment
than internships or graduate
schemes. The employer does need
to make what can be significant
financial investment.
While funding is available to
support training for apprentices,
what you get depends on a range
of criteria. Arqiva focuses on
getting the right people on our
programmes rather than those who
merely meet the funding criteria.
And of course there’s an
investment in time from senior,
experienced employees to support
the apprentice and help them
become effective.
For the apprentices themselves,
there are certain considerations
they should take into account. An
apprenticeship is usually very
focused and based around a
specific qualification or skillset.
While information about career
choices and routes is improving, it
is still understandably common for
young people to lack real clarity on
their future career vision as they
leave school or college. If the
chosen apprenticeship is not in the
right industry or job, then the lack
of a broader skillset could impact
their longer term career or mean
they have to start again.
Also, while paid employment is
often cited as a positive for
apprenticeship schemes, salaries
offered can be low - national
minimum or living wage for example
- and with some schemes running
over three years, that is a long time
to be living off the latter. In
addition, availability and quality of
relevant courses to support schemes
can vary from region to region.
CRUCIAL TO SKILLS STRATEGY
Despite all this, the fact that
apprentices can learn on the job from
experienced, active staff, get paid
to do it and enter permanent roles
at the end of their scheme is a huge
draw for young people looking to
make it in the broadcast industry.
At Arqiva, we are actively
increasing the number of
apprentices we recruit. We see
them as a crucial part of our
company’s skills strategy, ensuring
we have the skills and experience
to meet the needs of our customers
now and into the future.
Broadcast technology is an
industry sector that is unique in the
range of work that is involved.
Bringing young people into the
industry is crucial and
apprenticeships play an important
part in securing the future, as John
Druce, Learning and Development
Manager at Arqiva explains
EARNAS YOU
LEARN
T
Engineers
working at the Arqiva
Emley Moor TV mast
