Switching on the World, at Home and at Work
Without the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. The various tools we use to write documents, take and view photographs, put things online and use social media are all designed and maintained by ICT professionals. The industry provides people with software, hardware and networking services to keep our technology working.
Types of Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships on offer include information security, IT application specialist, software professional and telecoms professional. The really interesting thing is that some of the jobs you’ll end up doing in the future haven’t even been invented yet…
About the ICT Industry
As you might expect, ICT is an important part of the modern world. We rely on it for many things and it’s a part of our lives in all kinds of ways: our cars use Bluetooth and GPS technology; our TVs can connect to the internet; our public spaces are covered by WiFi networks; and of course the places where we live, work and study are filled with technology. All this power (often in our pockets) doesn’t arrive from thin air – it needs people to design, build and maintain it.
What can I do?
Careers in ICT can go in many different directions. If you choose the telecoms sector, for example, you could be working with the broadband, mobile phone and satellite communications networks that form the foundation of the information age. That might mean anything from helping customers get their home internet connection up and running to running diagnostics on an orbital satellite.
Alternatively, you could be helping the online world evolve by designing new software or apps, or perhaps creating websites for individuals and businesses. You might work for a search engine or social media company, or you might start your own: all it takes is one good idea, after all.
As the world changes and technology gets more advanced, we’re relying on it more and more. That means it’s important to keep that technology safe, so you might pursue a career in ICT security, helping to block viruses, protect data from hackers or advise companies on how to keep their systems secure.
We’re also using and storing more and more data, which means we need experts to wrangle it, analyse it and help us get the most from it. Things like cloud computing services and roles looking for patterns in the tides of data on the internet are only just getting started – the future could be very exciting, and you could be a part of it.
ICT Skills
Being good at maths, physics or computer coding are all useful skills in this industry, but there are many other attributes that employers value. Creative thinking and problem solving, for example, or working well with other people; or perhaps a real passion for innovation and keeping up to date with the latest thinking in your field.
Qualifications like apprenticeships are all about taking your raw talent and the things that interest you – whether it’s games, apps, mobile technology or anything else – and helping you put them to good use. You’re at a huge advantage because you’ve grown up with the internet and computers, unlike many of the people at the top of big companies. So get qualified, and show them what you can do.
ICT Careers
Nobody really knows what all the jobs available in this sector will be in a few years’ time, because it’s always evolving. But here are some examples:
IT and Telecoms – Support Technician, Helpdesk Professional, Line Installer, Software Developer, Network Planner, Web Designer
IT Applications – IT Clerk, Data Administrator, Web Technician, Digital Assistant
Security – Network Engineer, Security Engineer, Security Officer, Governance Officer
In addition there are higher level and management roles, and even careers in the police and security services (MI5 and MI6) – although details about specific roles are kept secret, unsurprisingly. You’ll need to apply to the service to find out more. Or maybe they’re already watching you. Just kidding.
Getting Started
To begin your search for apprenticeships and jobs in the industry head to CareerMap. You can also visit the Tech Partnership, a new site created by employers. It will tell you more about the industry itself and give you some idea of what it’s like to work in ICT.
Routes into the industry include:
- Apprenticeships
- Vocational qualifications / A Levels
- Scottish Vocational Qualifications
- Foundation Degrees (England and Wales only)
- Bachelors Degrees
- Earn and Learn
- Offering a mix of on-the-job learning and college-based study, apprenticeships are an increasingly popular way of getting into the industry. They can even be a viable alternative to the university route, offering degree-level qualifications.
As well as gaining a nationally-recognised qualification apprentices are also paid while they study, which can make an apprenticeship even more tempting. Plus, a high percentage of apprentices in the ICT industry stay with their employer once the apprenticeship ends.
Apprenticeships in the sector include:
- Information Security
- IT Application Specialist
- IT Professional
- Web Professional
- Software Professional
- Telecoms Professional
To give you an idea of how vital ICT is to almost every business operating in the UK, employers involved in ICT apprenticeships include 02, BT, Google, Royal Mail, Asda, the BBC and Network Rail. There are lots of opportunities out there – these are just the tip of the tech iceberg.
Levels of Apprenticeship
There are three main levels of apprenticeship in the ICT industry:
Level Two (Intermediate) – equivalent to GCSEs / Standard Grades
Level Three (Advanced) – equivalent to A Levels / Highers
Level Four (Higher) – equivalent to Foundation Degree / Advanced Highers
