As we set off on our exciting career journeys, it is natural that there will a range of different challenges for us to overcome along the way.

Matt England, a Level 3 Apprentice from Oxford started his Apprenticeship with 3aaa with a great passion and interest for IT along with exciting plans and ambitions for his future. Unfortunately for Matt, he struggled with other aspects of the course and he worried that this would stop him reaching his ultimate goal; a successful career in within IT.

Liz Baker, Apprentice Intake Executive for the Oxford Academy said “When Matt arrived for his interview he was very nervous and hardly spoke yet he was very polite. He did not pass his initial assessment in Maths and asked if he could retake it. We arranged for another interview and gave him some BKSB practice units. He came back and passed the Maths. However, he would have to take Functional Skills in this area. Myself, the tutors and the assessors all sat with Matt throughout his 14 months with us. Matt continuously came back from lunch early or would come in to study and do make up work to ensure he was completing his work correctly. He once told us that his secondary school Maths teachers would ignore him and not teach him anything because he was so far behind and that we are the only ones whom have taken the time to teach him Maths since he was in primary school.”

Matt is full of praise for the Oxford team as he can now progress with his Apprenticeship and follow his dream career in IT. “I wasn’t successful at first but I finally completed my Functional Skills in Maths at the third time of asking thanks to the support of 3aaa. After I failed at the first two attempts I then buckled down and we spent a full day going over my practice assessments and discussing how to work out the problems. This time I didn’t just pass the exam, I received a mark of 90%. I am so excited and proud of himself and I cannot wait to continue my IT Apprenticeship and reach my career goals. The staff at 3aaa were excellent and helped me improve my Maths knowledge without ever getting frustrated with me.”

Matt is now continuing his Apprenticeship with 3aaa and his Employer, CSE Education who are delighted with his progress. Jason Bowyer, Manage Service Engineer of CSE Education said “Now that Matt has passed his functional skill, his placement in the company is now secure and we can rely on him to carry out the tasks to the best of his ability, with a recognised qualification. He has fitted into the team brilliantly and we are looking forward to seeing him progress within the business”

Still haven’t decided what to do after School/College? Not sure that University is right for you? As Chris Hicklin found out, 3aaa can offer you the support and guidance as you explore an alternative route into the career of your choice.

Chris Hicklin, a Level 3 IT Apprentice from Tamworth contacted 3aaa after he did not get the results that he needed to go to University. After his initial disappointment, he soon realised there were other options available and he was excited about the benefits an Apprenticeship would offer him. “I decided to apply for an Apprenticeship after college as I did not get the required grades to get into University. I soon realised how beneficial an Apprenticeship could be to me as I looked to start a career in IT. It’s great to be able to learn the skills I need whilst earning a wage. Assessors visit me every month or so, but the rest of the time I’m just working like normal. My IT knowledge has really developed since working for Trent & Dove and I am now familiar with a range technical issues, from telephony systems to computer networking.”

Samantha Ryall the 3aaa RecruitmentExecutive for Tamworth worked closely with Chris to help him find an Employer that would suit his skills and personality so that he could prosper within his role. She said “After completing a college course in Computer Gaming, Chris wanted to go to University but unfortunately did not get the grades he needed. Chris then researched Apprenticeships as he looked for an alternative path and found that 3aaa would support his career goals. The Apprenticeship opportunity has allowed Chris to follow his passion for IT and provided him with the vocational studies as well as the hands-on work experience that he needs for career within the industry.”

As part of his Apprenticeship, Chris works for Trent & Dove Housing in Burton upon Trent, who are delighted with his progress. Anita Mansfield from Trent & Dove Housing said “Chris has developed within his role of IT Support Technician, and is now able to resolve a wide range of IT problems around the organisation. He is enthusiastic to keep learning and has an ambition to one day become a manager within a specialised role. He has become an excellent member of our team.”

Chris now sees his initial situation as a blessing in disguise. “In the future I would like to become specialised in one area of IT, and perhaps take a managerial role where I can supervise a team of people. The best thing about my Apprenticeship is that everything I learn is put into practice. I now have the qualifications and real life work experiences that will help me to get noticed by other Employers. Everyone at Trent & Dove has been really supportive during my Apprenticeship. I would recommend it to anyone who is starting out in their career.”

Finished your Level 3 IT Apprenticeship? Looking to continue your Apprenticeship journey and progress your career in IT?

Ben Harvey, a Level 4 IT Apprentice from the Derby Academy did just that. Ben completed his Level 3 IT Apprenticeship at our Nottingham Academy in November 2013 and in December 2013 he progressed with the Derby Academy and his Employer to study his Level 4 in IT. After a successful first 12 months, Ben decided that he wanted to follow his passion for IT and challenge himself further within this sector.  Laura Bayliss, Apprentice Intake Executive at the 3aaa Derby Academy said “During his time with 3aaa, Ben has been submitting work of the highest quality to his Assessor and he is well respected by in his peers in the Academy who see him as a role model and someone they wish to emulate in the future.”

Ben is employed by 3aaa and is part of the IT team based at the Head Office in Derby. Laura added “At work, Ben is the 3aaa Web Developer and has played a fundamental part in redesigning the company web page in accordance to the brand standards of 3aaa as well as meeting the client specification as set by the management team”.

As Ben finished his Level 3 Apprenticeship in November 2013, he was faced with a difficult decision about how he could progress towards the career of his dreams. After discussing his options with the Derby team, Ben decided that continuing on to complete his Level 4 Apprenticeship was a no brainer. He said “The Level 4 qualification has given me a greater depth of understanding of the industry as a whole which will help me to achieve more as my career progresses in the future.  Within my department at work we employ other Apprentices which has helped me strengthen my knowledge by providing support to them.”

Ben also spoke about the challenge of the Level 4 Apprenticeship, one in which he relishes as he looks to reach his own personal career goals. “My main challenge is that there is a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it alongside a full time job.  It is a big commitment and I have learnt to structure my spare time to ensure that I do not fall behind with my independent study. Within my Apprenticeship I have the added benefit of working for 3aaa and my Assessor Lisa always makes time to support me when needed.”

Ben recommends the Level 4 qualification to anyone who is finishing their Level 3 and looking to progress further. “I have learnt a lot more at a higher level of IT than I had encountered previously and this has been extremely interesting as I am always looking to challenge myself. The level 4 IT qualification has been worth the extra time and effort and I am proud to say that I am going to be qualified with a Level 4 HNC/HND foundation degree in the not so distant future.”