Employer description:
ApplianSys is an ambitious, entrepreneurial small enterprise, competing globally. Our customers come in all shapes and sizes, including global 100, governments/public sector, service providers and SMEs in 5 continents. 90%+ of all sales are exports, to over 160 countries.
So:
- Operations and Logistics is an integral and essential part of our company, providing the product, repair and product testing services that supply all our customers.
- Operations requires a suitably motivated person to follow efficiently a set of practical processes to a high standard of accuracy
- Operations team members require sustained commitment to processes, procedures and systems that control and monitor production at each stage
- the company demands high standards in all areas, with a vision to become and function continuously as a “world class small business”
Overview:
We are now looking for an eager candidate to join us as an apprentice.
You will have the opportunity to gain valuable skills, knowledge and experience as you complete a Level 3 IT Cloud Network Specialist Apprenticeship.
Apprentices within this role will be required to show conscientiousness in their work and an aptitude for practical dexterity in constructing our products.
They will be taught the clear and concise processes required to ensure our high standards of assembly and production are met.
For an apprentice learner in this environment, the context means they will learn about and have responsibility for all aspects within operations and these will be acquired at a faster pace than in many other companies. High standards in ApplianSys mean we look for good ways of doing things and implementing them and learning them rapidly.
The Role:
The Technical Apprentice will report to the Operations Manager.
The role is designed to develop the apprentice’s technical, administration and business skills in the areas of logistics, production, repair, testing, information systems, networking and software development.
The aim is for the apprentice to acquire the skills necessary for the development of a long-term career with ApplianSys. Therefore throughout the period of employment, the apprentice will be expected to develop the range of competencies that are required for the effective fulfilment of the role.
Separate to the external apprenticeship qualification, for one day of each week the apprentice attend ApplianSys own internal apprenticeship training.
There are two topics which apprentices will be trained on, which are:
- Networking
- Software Development
The role-holder will also assist the Operations & Logistics Team in the following areas:
- Logistics – purchase ordering, sales order administration, stock control, despatch, and customer returns. The role-holder should constantly be aiming for efficiency in these areas – zero errors, low costs and minimum effort required are the goals.
- Production - assembly and testing of products for shipping. This will be carried out with due regard to any health and safety issues whilst ensuring hardware failures are kept to minimum and quality standards are maintained.
- Repair – diagnosis and repair of returned faulty products. This will also include associated administrative tasks.
- Testing – before new products are released to our customers they undergo a thorough process of testing. Often this will involve senior technical staff, but sometimes the role-holder may also carry this out, depending on their expertise and knowledge.
- Quality management – drive the creation of a continuous improvement culture, with the role-holder supporting implementation of the Quality System.
- Hardware – researching components for new product development.
- Internal IT Support – Supporting internal IT infrastructure including PCs, laptops, servers and peripherals.
These are the key areas of responsibility of the role-holder.
Over time the role-holder will be expected to move from an assistance role to a role where they are fully responsible for specific logistics tasks.
Key Tasks:
- Building and testing systems prior to despatch
- Goods in & out, despatch, including exports to international countries
- Administering Work Instructions
- Purchase ordering
- Stock control – avoiding undesirable stock outages while minimising stock value. Organisation of physical stock.
- Control of demo stock
- Maintaining accurate records in Sage, and supplying management information and reports
- Handling RMA’s – including fault diagnosis and repair
- Hardware testing
- Software testing
- Ensuring quality compliant requirements are met
- Any other task required as part of the effective fulfilment of the role
What we are looking for:
Expected skills: The ideal candidate will have a good mix of technical and administrative skills, and an interest in developing these areas of competence:
- Passion for IT and computing
- Basic to solid knowledge of PC components and cabling, computer networks and networking, software development and programming
- High levels of practical skills for building electronic equipment
- Thorough, organised, disciplined
- Excellent attention to detail
- Sustained commitment and motivation to a task
- Comfortable multi-tasking, copes well under moderate stress and can work to tight deadlines.
- Demonstrable ability to care for customers: clear communicator with pleasant telephone manner and responsive attitude
- MS Office skills.
Useful experience:
- Linux Knowledge
- Any experience with Sage
Entry requirements:
The entry requirements for this Cloud Network Specialist programme are as follows:
- 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades 4+ (A-C) in any subject
- GCSE Maths and English (or equivalents) at grades 3+ (D or above)
- Prospective apprentices must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level as this apprenticeship in a similar subject
Also – having GCSE grade 6 or above (or equivalent) in a computer based subject is highly desirable, but not essential.
You may also have a combination of qualifications and experience which demonstrate the minimum foundation needed for the programme. In this instance you could still be considered for the programme.
If you hold international equivalents of the above qualifications, at the time of your application you must be able to provide an official document that states how your international qualifications compare to the UK qualifications.
Find out more here:
https://www.enic.org.uk/Qualifications/UKQRS/Default.aspx
Hours of work:
Salary:
£10,000 - £13,000 per annum.
Future prospects:
92% of QA Apprentices secure permanent employment after finishing their apprenticeship. Additionally, there may be opportunities to undertake further apprenticeship training as many of our programs offer on-going development tracks.
Important Information:
QA’s apprenticeships are funded by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), an executive agency of the Department for Education.
To be eligible for a Government funded apprenticeship you must have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for the last 3 consecutive years.