Welcome to our latest Modern Apprentice
To mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week, we talk to our latest Modern Apprentice recruit. Tristian joined our Digital Team as a Modern Apprentice in August 2022 and he is loving it!
What made you apply for the Modern Apprenticeship at SCRA?
I had been working as a barista in a coffee shop. I really enjoyed it, but I knew I wanted to do something a bit different and progress my career. I saw the advert online and decided to apply. I was really nervous waiting to hear if I was successful, but I was so pleased when I got the call!
So what does your Modern Apprenticeship with SCRA involve?
I am working as Corporate Digital Services Modern Apprentice based in the national IT team based at SCRA’s Head Office in Stirling. It’s a two year apprenticeship. Part of my job is hands on dealing with all things IT-related. Plus, I also need to complete an Information Technology & Telecommunications Professionals course which covers things like customer service.
So what does a typical day look like?
It is really varied, which is great. First thing in the morning, I check my own emails and also check the IT Help Desk mailbox. I need to make sure that everything is responded to and dealt with. This includes internal and external requests for help. Then I move on to my other tasks for the day.
I prepare hardware to be sent out to staff and rebuilding laptops that come back to us faulty to ensure they are ready and are updated with everything that the staff at SCRA needs to do their jobs. If a laptop doesn’t work, I work closely with the IT team to determine the issue and if we can get it fixed for the next user to use and if not, we source a replacement and try and resolve the current issue at hand.
I also process change requests for staff IT system accounts. This allows staff who are joining SCRA to have their own account and have the correct permissions applied to their account so they can hit the ground running. It also allows staff to suspend accounts for absences/leave. I also deal with deleting accounts if staff leave the organisation.
I am currently taking care of the public folders and tidying them up and deleting any emails/appointments that are no longer deemed necessary to be kept – so I am freeing up space to hopefully increase Outlook’s operating speed.
I was also in charge of handling the room booking software that we use at Ochil House in Stirling to allow staff to book a desk when coming into the office. It allows staff to sit in their defined teams or have the freedom of sitting with others they wouldn’t usually sit with.
I also help one of my colleagues with the inventory, keeping track of our laptops and their whereabouts. Ensuring that the ones that are no longer required are returned to us.
I also helped a team member configure the networking for the recently installed phones on desk setups. Having recently completed a Network training course online, it felt worthwhile having the knowledge and putting into my daily work life where we made sure that each phone was working and was setup correctly.
What’s the best bit about your Modern Apprenticeship?
Being part of a team and working with some great people. Everyone is really friendly and helpful. Plus no two days are the same. Since I started last August, the time has just flown by. Also seeing things you worked on being introduced. My line manager had asked me to look into online room and desk booking systems. I had to prepare a paper for her with some options. It was really rewarding to see my ideas being taken forward.
So what’s next after you complete your Modern Apprenticeship?
After the two years, I would really like to stay in SCRA. It is a great organisation to work for and I feel it would be good to continue to learn and develop my skills and knowledge further.