Meet the apprentices - Stephanie Smith

Name: Stephanie Smith

Age: 26

Year of apprenticeship: 2013

Employer: BT

Sector / Framework: IT / Service leader in the TV outside-broadcast team

Stephanie Smith, 24, from London, is an enthusiastic member of the team in her role as a project manager at telecoms company BT, also based in London.

Instead of going to university after completing AS-Levels in Business Studies and Media Studies, Stephanie decided to look for an Apprenticeship as she wanted to earn money at the same time as learning and gaining experience.

Can-do attitude

Stephanie began her Higher Apprenticeship in IT and Telecommunications at BT in September 2010 when she was 21.

While she worked towards her Apprenticeship qualification (which included a, BTEC Diploma in Professional Competence for IT and Telecoms and Foundation Degree in IT for Business) she was busy gaining on-the-job experience planning, organising and controlling a number of internal and external projects for BT, such as a transformation project to improve the working environment at the BT Tower and enhance welfare in the team.

“All of the projects I have worked on are normally delivered by senior project managers, but I have been entrusted to carry out these projects on my own,” Stephanie says. “This has helped me to contribute to the team’s success and to the delivery of a number of projects.”

“The Apprenticeship has impacted my life, helping me to grow in confidence and learn about the world of work,” Stephanie says. “It has given me the opportunity to develop my skills in team-work and learn how to run projects, manage people and present to large groups.”

Permanent role

When Stephanie finished her Apprenticeship in September 2013, she was successfully promoted to a permanent role in the TV outside-broadcast team as a service leader. She is now working towards her silver accreditation for project management and hopes at some point to do an external outside-broadcasting course.

“In the future my aim is to progress in my career within the business and find a job that challenges me and that I enjoy,” Stephanie says. “I would love to work with my own team of people and have a job that makes a difference to the business.”

Stephanie was named the London Higher Apprentice of the Year at the regional stage of the National Apprenticeship Award 2013.

Stephanie firmly believes that Apprenticeships can help people to get ahead in their careers.

“My Apprenticeship has greatly benefited me on a personal as well as professional level. I would definitely encourage other people who are thinking about the best way to start their chosen careers to consider an Apprenticeship.