Testimonies from Homes and Communities Agency IT apprentice Kieran Wilson and his mentor/line manager.

1. HCA apprentices – Kieran Wilson
Apprenticeship Week 2015

2. So far…
2012: First 2 HCA apprentices - with our IT team in
Gateshead
The scheme has now been rolled out to
other parts of the Agency
We’ve provided Cabinet Office with details of
our experiences & given them ideas on their
apprenticeship scheme

3. Kieran Wilson
Joined HCA October 2012;
our longest serving apprentice!
He works in the network support team
“Kieran has become an active and
contributing member of the team both
socially (he helps to organise events). In
his technical apprentice role he has
assisted with various projects and
operational functions.”
Clive D’Souza, Network Architect
“Throughout the programme he has
earned recognized accreditations and is
now studying for his 1st Cisco certification.
With this experience and qualifications
this will place him in a fantastic position
going into permanent employment.”
Andrew Critchlow, Network Architect
“I have
thoroughly
enjoyed my time
here and I have
learned a lot, not
just about IT but
also about how to
work in an office
environment
effectively as well as
getting along with
my colleagues.”
Successfully
completed level 3;
progressing level 4

4. Apprentice schemes have
numerous benefits!
We’re helping young people
struggling to find work gain
essential skills & prepare
them for their future careers
Everyone wants to help
apprentices settle in
& progress
Working with
apprentices can
improve staff
morale for
existing staff;
helping young
people to develop
can be incredibly
motivating
It provides
opportunities for
personal
development, eg
through mentoring
apprentices

5. We’ve found apprentices are eager, motivated, flexible
and loyal to the HCA as the organisation which has invested in
them. An apprentice is with HCA because they want to be – they
have made an active choice to learn on the job and a
commitment to a specific career
They are good ambassadors for the HCA!
We benefit from the creativity & new ideas apprentices
bring, an increase in productivity at affordable cost; and
taking on apprentices can improve our reputation with
stakeholders, partners & public

6. We’ll be recruiting more
apprentices across the
Agency in the coming year,
so watch this space.
Let’s hear it for
apprentices!

7. More info?
GOV.UK
@HCA_UK
@Apprenticeships
#NAW2015