An apprenticeship at Sol-Tec is a great way to learn on the job while earning a salary. You don’t need to be a university graduate. You do need a sound understanding of technology and the enthusiasm and aptitude to learn. We’ll give you all the guidance, skills and encouragement you need to launch your career.

Here Wes Jackson tells us how he started as an apprentice with Sol-Tec and worked his way through 2nd and 3rd line support to projects team and is now a Cloud Solution Architect in the Cloud Infrastructure Services Team.

1. When did you start your apprenticeship at Sol-Tec and how old were you?
I joined Sol-Tec in March 2009, I was 19.
2. What level of schooling had you completed?
I received a National Diploma in IT at college and then moved on to an IT Training company where I completed more IT-centric qualifications such as Microsoft XP Administration and CompTIA exams.

3. What first attracted you to the IT/Technology Industry?
Ever since a young age I’ve always had an interest in IT and technology. Growing up I saw leaps in technology and knew this was what I wanted to do in the future.

4. What first attracted you to Sol-Tec?
What appealed to me most at Sol-Tec was the fact it was a smaller company with a great atmosphere; rather than a large organisation where I might be just another body in a huge office.

5. What did you like best about Sol-Tec’s apprenticeship programme?
During the apprenticeship programme I was able to work on the job and really get invested in various aspects of IT as opposed to focusing solely on one particular product/service.

6. Who influenced you most at Sol-Tec.
There was never one particular person who influenced me the most in Sol-Tec, but due to the size of the office I had the opportunity to work closely with colleagues who were at a higher skill level. This really pushed me to work harder and get to their level ASAP.

7. What part of the programme influenced you most?
It was mainly the fact that from very early on in the programme I was able to get my hands dirty, with technical work; and how this accelerated the amount I was able to learn in such a short space of time – it was great.

8. Would you recommend an apprenticeship programme to others and if so why?
Definitely! Within the IT industry there is only so much you can learn from reading material and studying for exams. I learnt more in 6 months at Sol-Tec than I previously had throughout my time in education.

9. What has been the biggest industry change since you’ve been with Sol-Tec?
The Cloud, not a day goes by where you won’t hear mention of Cloud technology. Sol-Tec has invested heavily in working with Microsoft Azure and consequently it’s great place to be, right at the forefront of where the industry is heading.

10. What’s the coolest thing that’s happened to you within the industry since starting with Sol-Tec?
As silly as it may sound, having Microsoft call me up and asking for help on their products.

11. What do you like most about working for Sol-Tec?
I really like the fact that at Sol-Tec we’re always working on the latest technology within Microsoft Azure and the cloud. We’re always given the opportunity to work on various products within the cloud space too, so there’s never a dull day!

12. What do you like most about working in IT?
The technology continually advances and with it customers’ requirements become more complex; so no two days are the same. It’s the problem solving aspect that really appeals to me. A customer asking how something can be achieved, and it’s my job to design and implement a solution that can exceed their expectations!

So, there you have it straight from someone who has lived and breathed an apprenticeship at Sol-Tec and successfully progressed their career. If you are interested in applying for an apprenticeship with Sol-Tec please submit your CV with a covering email to Hannah Guster at hr@sol-tec.com.