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.”