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We were excited set up camp for the week at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith to give pupils a taste of what working in the telecommunications industry is like.
Colleagues from across the Fibrus Group, spent time at the school to give 10 pupils a hands-on introduction to telecoms. Throughout the week we provided a full programme of activities for the students, including splicing the fibres used in our broadband network that are just nine microns in width – half the width of a human hair!
There were also sessions on health and safety, business administration and a mock customer contact centre was set up – with the year 10 pupils challenged to handle queries. The 15-year-olds also got the chance to take part in a grants panel to review the funding applications we receive from local groups.
The pupils were shown how to splice together fibres by former Kirkby Stephen Grammar School pupil Sarah Dow, 19, who recently completed an apprenticeship with Viberoptix.
Sarah now works across Cumbria helping to lay the network that is bringing lightning-fast broadband to rural communities and says she loves her job. “It is great to be outside every day – I couldn’t work in an office,” she said, adding: “I’ve enjoyed showing the pupils what I do and giving them a chance to try out splicing. I think it’s a great opportunity for them to see different types of work.”
The week of work experience was clearly a hit, with the pupils enjoying the variety of roles and experiences on offer.
Luke Evans, 15, said: “I didn’t realise how many different roles there were within telecoms, so it has got us all thinking about the industry. I really enjoyed the business side of it and Fibrus have put on a really good week for us all.”
Libby Bateman, our Hyperfast Stakeholder and Engagement Manager in Cumbria, said the week of work experience had hopefully encouraged pupils to think about careers in telecoms.
“Coming into the school for the week has been a good way to speak to a wider range of pupils and show them opportunities for the future. Having Sarah here is great. She is only four years older than them, and they can see how well she is doing after her apprenticeship.
“Over the course of the week we have been able to give the students a taste of lots of different jobs including some of the administrative roles. It’s about inspiring them to think about what they can be and having them to consider work in the telecoms industry.”
To find out more about careers with Fibrus, visit https://fibrus.com/careers/