www.fdf.ac.uk

BT’s initial interest in Fds surfaced when it identified abusiness need for a group of apprentices to join a teamwhere the skills requirements were very technicallyfocused. After exploring all options BT ruled that a Fdwas the best solution to fill this gap in the organisation.

BT joined forces with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to create a series of Fds and also received advice and support from Foundation Degree Forward (fdf). Fds are now offered in IT For Business, Computer Network and Communications, Telecoms and Management, with two new Fds in Network and Communication Technologies and Customer Service and Contact Centre Management also developed.

Jerry Comber, Apprentice Lead at BT Operate:

“ Foundation degrees are a great way to appeal to new joiners as a viable alternative to university. We find the innovative combination of on-the-job training, work experience and the Foundation degree is a compelling alternative to full time university study.

“ The ability to nurture our own talent, grow our own graduates, and develop new recruits into managers of the future is now much faster than was previously possible. It’s impossible to replicate the skills and understanding that come from working and learning in the business on a day-to-day basis within a purely academic course.

“ We have found all HEIs to be very positive, flexible, and prepared to put forward innovative ideas to help us deliver exciting new programmes.

“ We have found that our employees who have studied for a Fd are willing to take on new ideas and ways of working. They are willing to put themselves out to take on additional responsibilities, and tell us that Foundation degrees are the reason they chose to work for BT. They relish the opportunity to become involved in the courses and programmes - get three years work experience, a nice healthy salary and a Foundation degree, which is two-thirds of an Honours degree.

“ The employer gets a crop of talented people into the workplace whobring fresh ideas and fresh ways of working. We benefit from theirviews and ideas but we can also shape them so they have goodprogression and a successful long-term career with the company.”

CaseStudyBT Foundation degrees are a ringing successBT was one of the first companies to set up a Foundation degree (Fd) when it launched a programme for its Higher Apprentice intake in 2006. In the first year 20 students participated and the popularity of the vocationally-focused qualification has since risen considerably.

Jerry Comber, Apprentice Lead, BT Operate

www.fdf.ac.uk

BT’s unrivalled training

BT’s current crop of higher apprentices are based across thecountry. Part of their training programme includes spending three days a month at BT’s residential training centre at Yarnfield Park, Staffordshire, where they are taught by tutors from Stoke College and Staffordshire University. Many of BT’s higher apprentices work as Installation and Support Technicians, setting up and maintaining highly-sophisticated communications technology for BT’s business customers.

The work-focused programme is varied, and includes:

• Traditional classroom lectures.• Online learning, featuring links to handouts, forums and

blog features.• Fd apprentices being assigned a “mentor” in the workplace.

Shaun Pell, aged 19, who works for BT in LAN (Local AreaNetwork)/WAN (Wide Area Network) & IPT Support in Eccles,Greater Manchester, is studying an IT for Business Foundationdegree. It is being delivered by Stoke on Trent College forStaffordshire University.

“I find that the Foundation degree gives me a broad knowledge across the whole subject and the work placement gives me a focused area of expertise.

“ It provides a sense of achievement; it encourages you to go that extra mile to get the task completed because of the end reward. This leads to greater self-motivation and helps in all areas of work. I have a great sense of achievement when I walk out of the office every day, knowing that I have added some value to the company. I would recommend it to anybody wanting to study at work as it allows you sufficient time to work and study.”

BT apprentice, Jono Darlington, also 19, is a Support Technicianin Liverpool. He is studying for a Foundation degree in ComputerNetwork and Communications.

“ This is paid for by BT and teaches the skills specific to the job that I will be going into once my course is finished. This way I get the qualification and a job without the large costs – and I don’t need to move to another area.

“ It has been tailored by BT to fit in with my job role. This is teaching me the skills that I need to help me progress through my career. I am also learning about new topics such as programming and network skills.

“ I feel that it is opening up a wider career path than if I did not have the qualification.”

Why Foundation degrees ring true with BT:

• Allow a different audience to be targeted. The Fd is an attractive scheme to A Level students who were intending to go to university. Instead they can ‘earn while they learn’, gain a recognised qualification and work experience - and avoid student debts.

• Retention rates are very high – about 95 per cent – for higher apprentices undertaking Fds.

• BT is seen as an industry leader of Fds, prompting many other organisations to show an interest in how the programmes work.

For further information please visit the fdf website at

www.fdf.ac.uk

or contact the fdf Press Office atenquiries@fdf.ac.uk

Shaun Pell & Jono Darlington, both Foundation degree students