We were recently given the opportunity by Studio West, a local school based in West Denton, to speak to their students in years 9 and 10 on a career within the IT and communications sector.
This was something we were delighted to be involved with, having worked with local young talent for the past 10 years as part of our Advanced Apprentice Scheme. This is an area we are passionate about and have experienced great success.
Studio West offers a vibrant learning experience combining GCSEs, A Levels, and occupational qualifications. Offering a dynamic approach to learning, preparing young people with the skills, knowledge and experience. Education is taken out of the classroom, with students learning in the real world through working in teams on projects designed to reflect real-life situations. Through weekly work placements, they develop the employability skills needed to succeed in life and work.
“We collaborate with local businesses throughout the academic year to enrich the learning experience of the students by providing a host of opportunities for interaction and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Bringing on board local employers ensures that the Studio West curriculum is relevant to developing our students’ employability skills and ensuring that these fit with local business needs.”
Studio West
Smart IT asked Zachary Bagnall to present to the students, Zach was the perfect choice. Starting his career in IT as an apprentice helpdesk engineer, he has worked his way up the career ladder to the position of Technical Manager. During his career talk Zach explained how he was unsure on what career path to take, completing his apprenticeship allowed him to study and earn a salary. Zach is a real success story of Smart IT’s Advanced Apprentice Scheme.
Zach tells us more about his journey with Smart IT.
“I joined Smart IT in May 2014 on a level 3 IT apprenticeship with QA apprenticeships; within weeks of me starting with Smart IT I was building knowledge and experience with IT equipment.
While doing my level 4 apprenticeship I became a field engineer and from there was offered the role of managing the remote engineering team. I then went on to manage the helpdesk, creating a more structured department before being promoted to my current position of Technical Manager, overseeing the onsite projects and managing the onsite engineering team.”
Zachary Bagnall, Technical Manager, Smart IT
The students at Studio West enjoyed their career talk from Zach, keeping him on his toes with lots of questions at the end.
To find out more about a career in IT visit our careers page
