“I was employed working in warehousing part time and was always looking for something better. The opportunity to gain all the accreditations required to move into employment sounded too good to be true, so I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and embarked on a new beginning in the telecoms industry.” 

 

Name: Sean Kier

Age: 28

Location: Stockton

Job: Blown Fibre Engineer

 

Sean was keen to find a job he could be passionate about, but he was missing the qualifications he needed to progress in his career. By completing a Skills Bootcamp in the telecommunications industry, Sean was able to learn new skills and was fast-tracked to an interview with Avonline, where he works today.  

Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses lasting up to 16 weeks to build in-demand sector skills and offer a fast-track to an interview with an employer.  

Through the scheme, Sean accessed a Skills Bootcamp Telecommunications Supervisor course with Digital Telecoms Network Academy (DTNA), to build the key skills needed for a successful career in the telecoms industry.  

Sean said: “I was employed working in warehousing part time and was always looking for something better. The opportunity to gain all the accreditations required to move into employment sounded too good to be true, so I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and embarked on a new beginning in the telecoms industry.” 

Attending an information and guidance session gave Sean the confidence to take the plunge. 

As we move towards digital cities there is growing demand for skilled workers who can help develop the digital networks and infrastructure needed. DTNA offers specialist qualifications and training to equip workers with in-demand skills to get into and progress in the sector.  

The course covered a range of activity, from practical skills covering health and safety on site, overhead and underground awareness, introductions to fibre optics, ribbon fibre and air blown fibre, to management skills like leadership, project management and budgets. 

Sean said: “Having no prior experience, all the information on the course was beneficial but I really enjoyed the practical side the best.” 

And he hasn’t looked back since. 

Sean said: “On completion of the course I was fast tracked to an interview with Avonline and was taken on as a Blown Fibre Engineer. The main barrier I previously faced when trying to better myself was my lack of qualifications, but DTNA provided me with the opportunity to gain the required qualifications and I now have the skills and knowledge from the bootcamp to hopefully move into a supervisor role in the future.” 

To find out more about Adult Skills provision in the Tees Valley, visit: https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/skills-employment/skills/adult-skills/