National Apprenticeship Week – Meet some of our apprentices

At Evolving Networks, we are committed to promoting innovation, nurturing talent, and building a brighter future for the tech industry. For National Apprenticeship week, we speak to some of our valuable colleagues about their apprenticeship journeys at Evolving Networks.

Interesting fact: Did you know that the impact of apprenticeships has been transformative for us. Half of our Senior Management Board are former apprentices, and a quarter of our workforce are currently apprentices.

‍

Ben Wright

What’s your role?

General Manager

How long have you been at Evolving Networks?

8 years

Tell us a little about your career and education so far?

I joined Evolving Networks as a Sales Administration Executive in 2012, 6 days after my last A-Level exam. My friends were prepping themselves for university, while I was in the workplace, building the foundations for a career.

Within the first year at Evolving Networks, I completed my Business & Administration Level 2 apprenticeship, and most of my Business & Administration Level 3 apprenticeship. This really helped me understand the basic mechanisms within the workplace, whilst giving me the opportunity to apply them and see them in action.

In my final year of my first stint at Evolving Networks, I was given the opportunity to complete a Management Level 3 apprenticeship, which helped me better understand the tools a manager can use to get the most out of their team.

After a three year sabbatical in the magazine industry, I returned to Evolving Networks as a project manager, which was great fun. It felt like coming home to my professional family.

Over the past five years, I have been able to get involved with projects across the business, reviewing policies, processes and best practice. This exposure gave me a platform to leverage my management skills from my Level 3, supplementing that with an Operations/Departmental Manager Level 5 apprenticeship. I now have a deeper understanding of business and management theories, which have really helped our staff retention and development.

I owe my career to the apprenticeship scheme. University wasn’t for me, and I’d like to think I’ve shown that it’s not the only route post-16/post-18.

What do you love doing outside of work?

Outside of work I’m very active and very social. I enjoy seeing my friends and family, meeting up for coffee and food! I love playing golf, going out running, in the gym powerlifting, walking and watching sports!

‍

Amber Roberts

What’s your role?

Head of People & Culture

How long have you been at Evolving Networks and what attracted you to join?

I’ve been with Evolving Networks for 11 years now, and it’s flown by! I was first attracted to the company because it was a totally new world to me. Throwing myself into the tech industry as a “non-techie” created more opportunities than I could have imagined.

Tell us a little about your career and education so far?

I decided to go straight to college from school. I didn’t have my whole life planned out at the age of 17 and unfortunately, I realized quite early that I’d made the wrong decision. I then started looking for apprenticeships and that’s how I found Evolving Networks. I started as an Accounts Administrator where I could create and send invoices, manage age debt, use our finance system and interact with customers, all while completing my Business & Administration apprenticeship. I then moved onto my management apprenticeship, was given a team to manage and that’s where I found my passion for People Management. After completing my second apprenticeship and as the company was growing, I then focused on building our HR department from scratch. I was given the opportunity to complete my CIPD, paid for by the company and I’ve now earned myself a chair at the Management Board, as the only female manager. I play a key role in making sure our people strategy aligns with our company strategy.

What do you love doing outside of work?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I love chilling and watching Netflix! I’ve been renovating a house with my fiancé for the past 3 years, I have a puppy who I love taking on adventures and I’ve recently got into reform Pilates!

‍

Tom Whitwell

What’s your role?

2nd Line Technical Operations Engineer

How long have you been at Evolving Networks and what attracted you to join?

I've been here for 2 years and 4 months! During my first interview, I noticed that Evolving Networks offered the flexibility for me to grow, learn skills beyond the Service Desk, and switch roles. The office environment felt much friendlier and closer compared to my previous workplaces.

Tell us a little about your career and education so far?

In brief, I have a BSc in Biomedical Sciences. My academic background equipped me with the knowledge and mindset for diagnosing issues, but my true passion lies in working with computers. I also hold a CompTIA Network+ certification and have almost completed a Software Development Level 3 apprenticeship.

What do you love doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I am an avid reader, mainly focusing on Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres. I also enjoy playing video games and board games, although I wish I had more time for them! At home, I have two personal servers that I'm constantly tinkering and playing around with. Apart from spending time in front of a book or a screen, I love perfecting my art of low and slow BBQ smoking.


‍

With support from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Growth Works with Skills service, we are building for success with more apprenticeships within our company. Discover our latest video of Ben and Ambers apprenticeship stories:

‍

‍

To find out more about Growth work for skills visit – Building an ‘apprentice community’ with support from Combined Authority skills service – Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk)