Glenn Bracey and Andrew Grinsted
ITS Services have appointed a recent graduate of the University of Sussex apprenticeship scheme to their Desktop Support department.
Junior Desktop Technician, Glenn Bracey, became the first apprentice to join ITS in June 2019 through a partnership with QA Apprenticeships.
Glenn’s line manager, Head of Service Operations and Change, Andrew Grinsted, said: “We selected the IT Service Desk as the ideal place for Glenn to gain first-hand experience of working with a diverse range of technical systems, and customer service experience.
“Eighteen months on and the result has been incredible. Glenn has brought a boundless energy and enthusiasm to the role and has surpassed all our expectations.
“Glenn’s technical expertise helped us transform the capabilities of our Service Desk, a process which we hope to continue with our second apprentice – as Glenn moves on to other challenges within the department after completing his apprenticeship.”
We spoke to Glenn about his experience as a Sussex apprentice:
What first attracted you to the role and apprenticeship at the University of Sussex?
From a young age, I started tinkering with laptops and computers, learning from online guides and testing things practically. At college I found that I was struggling to learn in the normal “book learning way”. I found that where I was unable to apply the knowledge I learnt practically, I’d then forget what I had learnt.
I was informed that an apprenticeship/internship may be the right path for me by my college career advisor, as you get the opportunity to apply everything you learn on the job, so I cancelled my application for an undergraduate course and started looking for an apprenticeship.
I was attracted to the apprenticeship role at the University because a place as substantial as Sussex would have a far bigger infrastructure and budget compared to a smaller IT department. I thought it would give me the chance to develop my skills in such a way that I would be set up and in good standing for a future in IT, regardless of where that path might take me.
What qualification did you achieve?
I achieved a Distinction in the BCS Level 3 course to be a qualified Infrastructure Technician. This consisted of many modules that allowed me to learn and then apply the skills I learned in practice labs or in my day-to-day job. The course, hosted by QA, contained a wide range of IT subjects to allow myself to really get a feel for what part of IT I’d like to specialize in. For me, my favourite was the cloud services course, which was a Microsoft qualification. With this and the support of my colleagues, I now have a firm grasp on the fundamentals of Microsoft 365, email and Azure.
How did you manage to study towards your qualification as well as working in a busy team?
My apprenticeship was constructed into four different modules. Part of the course was five industry-standard qualifications provided by BCS and Microsoft. These must be completed either at QA’s training centres in London or remotely via Webex. There is also a portfolio that I was required to complete over the course of my apprenticeship. Sussex were more than happy for me to dedicate as much time as I needed to complete this work. There is an end week project where you get to build and document a solution to a given problem. I thoroughly enjoyed this as it allowed me to test and be creative in a test environment.
What is next for you in your career?
I have been lucky enough to have been given a full-time position and promoted into the Desktop Support department, where I will be able to further my education and take the next steps in my IT career. I am currently a member of the email migration project and I hope to continue my contribution to this and help make the vital changes needed to our IT infrastructure. I am very grateful for the opportunity and for all the things I will get to learn!
What advice would you give anyone thinking about starting an apprenticeship?
In no way am I saying an apprenticeship is right for everyone; it definitely has its flaws and a degree shows a level of dedication that many don’t get the opportunity to work at, but if you are passionate about a subject and think that you could enjoy a career in said subject, then an apprenticeship is right for you. It gives you a level of learning and understanding that, in my opinion, you just can’t get from a lecture and degree. Because of my success and Sussex taking a chance on me, I am now in such a brilliant position where I am in full-time work, learning and most of all, enjoying every single day!
About the University’s staff apprenticeship scheme
As an employer, the University of Sussex supports new and existing employees through apprenticeship programmes. They are for everyone regardless of age, work experience or job level.
Apprenticeship programmes combine work, training, and studying so you can ‘earn while you learn’. The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017 gives employers, such as the University of Sussex, the opportunity to develop their workforce using apprenticeships, which are fully funded by the levy. That means the levy pays for 100% of the training, with no cost to employees or to their school / department.
There are a huge range of programmes available, from entry level to higher and degree levels. Apprenticeships offer a flexible approach to learning that can be done over time at the pace of the learner in the workplace. As a staff member you can undertake an apprenticeship with the support of your department or division and line manager. The process should begin with your appraisal, where an apprenticeship could be identified to help you develop in your current role.
We currently have members of staff on the following apprenticeships:
- Business Administration Level 3
- CIMA Level 4 and Level 7
- Exercise and Fitness, Personal Training Level 3
- Leadership and Management Levels 3, 5 and 7
- Digital Marketing Level 3
- Customer Service Level 2 and 3
- Infrastructure Technician Level 3
- Content Producer Level 3
For more information about the staff apprenticeship scheme please contact the Organisational Development team.