Contact centre highlights success during National Apprenticeship Week

Service Birmingham is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week (6 – 10 February) by spotlighting the achievements of one of its crop of successful young apprentices – Alex Bradley.

Service Birmingham – the joint venture between the city council and Capita, which provides ICT support and contact centre services, currently has 16 apprentices undertaking a three-year placement as they gain skills and experience to pursue a career in ICT or contact centre services.

Alex Bradley (21), employed by Service Birmingham as one of  three apprentices in its Link2ICT Division is spending his final year as an apprentice working as a school ICT technician at Anglesey Primary in Lozells, Birmingham.  Alex joined the school in 2011 and supports the current School Technician Graham Russell. His varied role sees him supporting teachers and pupils by maintaining and upgrading computer equipment, installing software and providing technical support. Having Alex in place alongside Graham has helped the school manage its ICT service over a split site – improving the response time in dealing with any computer problems.

Praising Alex’s work, Head Teacher Sue Hughes said: “We can’t believe we’ve been so lucky to have Alex at the school. He’s been quite simply superb. ICT is a priority for us here and he has brought valuable knowledge so we can improve what we offer to the pupils.  Alex has also fitted in really well and I hope he will be able to stay with us full time after his apprenticeship.”

Alex said: “I really enjoy my job. There are many challenges – whether it’s being called into a classroom to fix something or upgrading a server. It’s really rewarding to know that my work helps the pupils and teachers here.”

Service Birmingham Chief Executive Stewart Wren said: “I welcome the focus on the value of apprenticeships that National Apprenticeship Week brings. Alex is a great example of the opportunities that apprenticeships can create both for the young person and for their employers. I wish Alex and all our apprentices well and I thank them for their continuing contribution to the success of Service Birmingham.”

Birmingham’s Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources, Cllr Alan Rudge, said: “I have been very involved in Service Birmingham’s Apprentice Programme and am committed to its success. It’s fantastic to see the success of the scheme and the opportunities it is providing for young people.”

Pictured above : Alex Bradley, Service Birmingham Apprentice