Virgin Media Apprentice 2012: Tashan Turner 

Tashan’s back for seconds... 

Tashan Turner, 20, will be a seasoned apprentice when he reaches the final stages of his second Virgin Media apprenticeship program. Having qualified as a field technician in October 2010, Tashan has now taken the next step up the ladder with Virgin Media – a second apprenticeship. Following this next stage, in seven months, Tashan will become a fully qualified Virgin Media network engineer and will be monitoring Virgin Media’s pioneering digital entertainment services in Croydon. 

Background:

At the start of 2012 Virgin Media launched its biggest-ever scheme to find 120 new apprentices across the UK, searching for bright sparks across the country who are eager to learn new skills, help the company grow its network of digital entertainment services and champion high levels of customer service. 

Virgin Media first rolled out its apprenticeship scheme four years ago, providing young people with the opportunity to earn while they learn. So far the company has found more than 530 new employees, each of whom is currently getting to grips with the company’s state-of-the-art services.

It is expected that nearly 700 field technician apprentices will have joined Virgin Media by the end of the year. All will work towards the company’s very own, nationally recognised QCF Level 2 (equivalent to NVQ Level 2) in Communication Technology, which Tashan received after his first apprenticeship. The qualification has been designed to reflect innovative and future-focused IT work-based needs throughout the UK. 

This year, Virgin Media is dedicated to finding another 120 bright sparks eager to get to grips with the company’s state-of-the-art services, including the UK’s fastest broadband service at 120Mb as well as Virgin Media’s revolutionary TiVo powered digital TV service.  

Tashan Turner – A Virgin Media Apprentice

• While studying A Levels at college, Tashan found the Virgin Media apprenticeship program on a jobs website. He instantly recognised the benefits of joining Virgin Media and applied for his first apprenticeship

• Originally recruited in 2009, Tashan was one of four apprentices to secure a place on the scheme within Croydon

• Following his graduation in 2010, Tashan worked as a field technician for a year before applying for the apprentice network engineer apprenticeship program. Tashan sees this second apprenticeship as the next step in his career and wants to improve his skills and build on his knowledge 

• Currently Tashan is training to become a network engineer. The role requires Tashan to install and maintain Virgin Media’s superfast fibre optic network and ensure Virgin Media customers continue to receive excellent service 

• Tashan is aiming high at Virgin Media and by working towards his second apprenticeship has taken the next step to moving up the ladder within Virgin Media  

More from Tashan on the Virgin Media apprenticeship scheme:

“During my A Levels I started thinking about my next steps. I wanted to secure an apprenticeship as I knew it was the best way to gain on-the-job training and I researched several schemes before I discovered the Virgin Media apprentice program. Once I researched the scheme I had to apply. The benefits of the program are very good, compared to other schemes - they look after you and you can move up the ladder or across the business. 

Working for Virgin Media during my first apprenticeship, as an apprentice field technician, allowed me to work with new people within the business, meet customers daily, gave me a taste for fault finding and boosted my confidence. The apprenticeship program teaches you to adapt to different situations and develops your customer service skills” explains Tashan. 

Tashan completed his first apprenticeship scheme in October 2010 and is now working towards his second to become a fully fledged network engineer. 

Tashan learnt a lot from his first scheme and is now building on those skills in the second scheme: “My first apprenticeship was a really beneficial experience. It showed me that if I work hard it will be recognised and people in the business will know my name. The scheme is a great opportunity to move around Virgin Media, learn new skills and move up the ladder.” 

Tashan hopes to progress and develop further within Virgin Media using his experience of the apprenticeship program. “It’s great working at Virgin Media. The apprenticeship program has great benefits, such as travelling the country and the chance to make new friends on the way, I would recommend it to anyone. .” 

Peter Van Den Broeck, head of apprentice programs from Virgin Media, said: “Tashan is a great advocate for the Virgin Media apprenticeship program. He proved he had the qualities we were looking for in a field technician and has now shown his potential to progress further within the business, grabbing the opportunity with both hands.”

www.virginmedia.com