True Potential - Managing an IT Apprentice
Background…
“True Potential is one of the fastest growing and most innovative financial services organisations in the UK, working with close to 20% of the UK adviser market. Through technology we are revolutionising the way wealth management is delivered.
“We are committed to our promise of delivering strategies and services that are simple, effective and unique. Our client-facing investment technology provides an unparalleled user experience that is clear, uncluttered and client-centred.
“We offer low-minimum investment Portfolios available to the entire adviser market. These diversified, multi-asset Portfolios are specifically mapped to client attitude-to-risk profiles, providing a simple investment decision.”
Please provide an overview of your apprentice’s job role and day to day duties…
“Daily duties range from simple network password resets to encryption password resets – assisting with visitors and internal staff in the onsite meeting rooms on all floors. General PC/laptop support issues, build new assets and installing operating systems and software as well as recording all asset details. Controlling of licensing. Dealing with and confirming then actioning new permissions requests on files and folders. Office moves and new starter setups, both wireless and wired connections, back to the comms cabinets on each floor. Some basic server administration tasks as well as tasks associated with ensuring everything on the networks is patched and up-to-date and has the latest check-in times for updates for reporting purposes.”
What are your views on apprenticeships? Why did you decide to go down this route when looking to recruit?
“The company has, since it’s first days chosen to recruit from trainees, get them trained up and hang on to them at the end of their apprenticeships. This has been the case in many departments here and is how the business was built up in those early days. We have found that people appreciate the hands on training more and work better amongst their peers without having any external pre-conceptions or attitudes.”
Have you had any engagement with apprentices before? If so what impact has this had on your business?
“We have had apprentices in the past from various providers and they have been kept on in permanent roles having worked hard and contributed to the award-winning technology we are known to provide. The apprenticeship scheme enables them to train to standards needed in todays’ technology world and put those skills to work in their day to day roles. This also creates an environment of innovation where they can develop their ideas in a business that will listen to them.”
Describe your experience working with Baltic Apprenticeships so far. Would you recommend us to others?
“Our experience has been really good with Baltic Apprenticeships so far, they have been both knowledgeable and understanding about the types of people we are looking to train and work with. They have ensured that the documentation for each person is up to date and managing to split the training dates throughout the year to ensure we do not lose all our apprentices at the same time on the same course. Having used other training providers in the area over the past few years we have developed and excellent rapport and standard of trainees from Baltic Apprenticeships and would have no hesitation in recommending their services to other companies.”
What was your opinion on apprenticeships before you began the recruitment process?
“As the IT Manager, and also understanding the Directors positive views on apprenticeships and training staff, we had no other pre-conceived ideas about using apprentices. Our main challenge was to find a provider that could deliver the quality and backup resources that the apprentices need to learn, and to eventually achieve recognised accreditations and certifications.”