IT
Start – apprentices at Could Circle begin learning about every aspect of their new job from day one.
“ It means our guys can have the confidence to use his guides and documentation to set up a new customer from scratch, but without having to make all the decisions.
“ It gets them in that middle ground of experience without the decision-making – they can go through and set up all the technical cyber security controls, and get exposure clicking through it but have the confidence they’ re not going to break something.
“ It’ s a really good bridge for their skill set so we’ re not having them in the position where they don’ t know what they’ re doing yet so we can’ t move them forward. And it means that when they get calls from customers, because they’ ve been involved in the setup, they’ re so much better – it just accelerates their progression, really.
“ Standardisation of product is massive for us. I think it solves a lot of problems in businesses that people don’ t think are related and this is another one.”
Above all, stresses Tom, it’ s about creating good, skilled jobs in a growing sector such as Cloud computing.
And for a firm that last year boasted 100 % customer retention, it’ s clearly working.
New recruit Charlie Pearson gives his take on apprentice life at Circle Cloud...
“ Before working at Circle Cloud I was working in my local pub as I tried to consider my next options.
“ I’ ve always had a passion for IT and had been studying it since I’ d left secondary school. I knew I wanted to make a career for myself in the industry, but I wasn’ t really sure what next steps I could take.
“ There was something about getting a real-world education within the sector that massively appealed to me.
“ That’ s when the Circle Cloud apprenticeship opportunity came along. I knew I wanted to join Circle Cloud straight away because I was extremely impressed by the progress they were making and how close-knit the team was.
“ What also stood out was that they had a clear plan for me from day one, which was communicated in the interview.
Belonging – Charlie knew he wanted to work at Cloud Circle as soon as he saw how close-knit the team was.
“ It’ s been amazing so far, as they’ ve come good on their promise – I’ m already getting involved in meaningful work. Working for Circle Cloud has been great.
“ I ' m doing what I enjoy and I ' m getting along with everyone better than I could have imagined.
“ They have a positive culture here. Everyone wants you to do well, which is exactly what I think you need as an apprentice.”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 29