Network Cable Installer Apprenticeship

Summary

If you're passionate about technology and intrigued by how digital devices connect, our 2-year Network Cable Installer Apprenticeship provides an excellent foundation for your career. You’ll earn while you learn, with annual salary increases as you progress towards the Level 3 Network Cable Installer apprenticeship standard.

Annual wage

£20,456 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Year 1: £20,456 Year 2: £22,500

Training course

Network cable installer (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

35 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As an apprentice, you'll be part of Babcock's Skynet Service Delivery Wrap (SDW) program, which plays a crucial role in providing essential communication capabilities to the UK and NATO armed forces. The Skynet system ensures that service personnel can stay connected anytime, anywhere, in any environment on Earth. By joining this program, you won’t just acquire specialised networking skills - you’ll also contribute to projects that are critical to the security of the UK.

You will work five days a week at our location in Bordon, where our teams are focused on maintaining and modernising the UK’s sovereign space communications capabilities.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will have the chance to rotate through different Skynet SDW Infrastructure teams, gaining valuable insights into their operations and taking on increasingly complex tasks as your experience and skills grow.

Typical tasks include:

Installing, testing, and repairing copper, fibre optic, and data cabling.
Selecting and installing network equipment components.
Understanding the differences between switches and routers.
Analysing plans and quantifying equipment requirements.
Learning and applying safe working practices in diverse environments, including working at height and in confined spaces.

Where you’ll work

Bordon, Hampshire

GU35 0JE

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

THE COLLEGES' PARTNERSHIP LIMITED

Your training course

Network cable installer (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Install copper cabling components for Local Area Networking (LAN). Carry out maintenance tasks on copper cable networks. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
Install fibre optic cabling components for Local Area Networking LAN and Wide Area Network WAN infrastructure. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
Conduct testing on copper cabling in accordance with equipment manufacturer's procedures, compliant to industry standards, interpret results and rectify failures.
Carry out testing of fibre optic cabling using an optical loss test set, Tier 1 and fibre inspection tool in accordance with equipment manufacturer’s procedures, and compliant to industry standards.
Analyse copper and fibre test results and provides certification to the customer.
Prepare, constructs and installs telecommunications equipment cabinets, either pre-built or from flat-pack. Arrange and install fixtures and fittings for the intended use. Selects network equipment components for installation into cabinets, differentiating between switches and routers.
Work at height in a safe manner.
Work in confined spaces by implementing health and safety procedures, using and maintaining personal protective equipment.
Apply health and safety working practices to keep themselves and others safe.
Analyse plans, make decisions about equipment types and quantity, and predict time frames.
Assess the requirements for cable containment by type and size to build a pathway suitable for routing data cables. Install containment systems, using tools and methods for cutting, shaping and mounting tray, basket trunking and conduit.
Install end-point equipment using fixings and media.
Interpret the customer statement of requirements to determine the quantity and quality of components to be used in the cable network.
Quantify equipment requirements and timelines for tasks to be carried out.
Communicate with key stakeholders in the customer's organisation including the customer, the construction design and management CDM co-ordinator, the project manager and the information technology IT security officer.
Maintain cyber security, applying processes and procedures aimed at protecting data confidentiality.
Install copper cabling components for Local Area Networking (LAN). Carry out maintenance tasks on copper cable networks. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
Install fibre optic cabling components for Local Area Networking LAN and Wide Area Network WAN infrastructure. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
Conduct testing on copper cabling in accordance with equipment manufacturer's procedures, compliant to industry standards, interpret results and rectify failures.
Carry out testing of fibre optic cabling using an optical loss test set, Tier 1 and fibre inspection tool in accordance with equipment manufacturer’s procedures, and compliant to industry standards.
Analyse copper and fibre test results and provides certification to the customer.
Prepare, constructs and installs telecommunications equipment cabinets, either pre-built or from flat-pack. Arrange and install fixtures and fittings for the intended use. Selects network equipment components for installation into cabinets, differentiating between switches and routers.
Work at height in a safe manner.
Work in confined spaces by implementing health and safety procedures, using and maintaining personal protective equipment.
Apply health and safety working practices to keep themselves and others safe.
Analyse plans, make decisions about equipment types and quantity, and predict time frames.
Assess the requirements for cable containment by type and size to build a pathway suitable for routing data cables. Install containment systems, using tools and methods for cutting, shaping and mounting tray, basket trunking and conduit.
Install end-point equipment using fixings and media.
Interpret the customer statement of requirements to determine the quantity and quality of components to be used in the cable network.
Quantify equipment requirements and timelines for tasks to be carried out.
Communicate with key stakeholders in the customer's organisation including the customer, the construction design and management CDM co-ordinator, the project manager and the information technology IT security officer.
Maintain cyber security, applying processes and procedures aimed at protecting data confidentiality.

Your training plan

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will study and train for the role of a Network Cable Installer.

The course includes a wide range of specialist modules designed to provide you with a strong theoretical foundation for your future career. You'll also develop practical skills in cable management, learning to accurately select and present the right cables for each specific task.

Your apprenticeship will culminate in an End Point Assessment (EPA), where an independent assessor will evaluate your performance against the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) defined in the occupational standard. This final assessment allows you to demonstrate the expertise you have gained during the programme.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade G/1 or above)
Mathematics (grade G/1 or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working

Other requirements

Many of our early careers roles are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold may impact which roles you are eligible for. You must be able to achieve BPSS (Baseline security) and many of them require you to be eligible for Security Clearance.

About this company

Babcock is an international defence, aerospace and security company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus countries. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability, and capability by delivering engineering, support and critical systems to defence and civil markets.

Company benefits

Fully funded qualification, personal development, training and opportunities, minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays, competitive pension scheme, employee share scheme, flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

The space industry is on a remarkable growth trajectory, with its global value projected to triple by 2035. As part of this booming sector, the skills and experience you’ll develop in network cabling will remain in high demand for years to come.

Completing the apprenticeship programme is just the start of an exciting career journey with us. We are dedicated to your continued professional growth, offering ongoing development opportunities at our Bordon site. After completing the programme, you can anticipate earning a competitive salary of over £25,000, depending on your role.

Additionally, successful completion of the programme qualifies you to apply for full membership with the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals, further enhancing your professional credentials.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE COLLEGES' PARTNERSHIP LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000295166.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 20 March

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Once you’ve clicked ‘Apply’, you’ll be taken to our application site. Set up a candidate profile and you can apply for roles at Babcock.

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