James Green
James Green, IT Apprentice at Smiths Group
When did you join Smiths?
I joined in 2015 working in the Client Services department before enrolling in an apprenticeship programme working in Collaboration Services providing Office365 and SharePoint support. I am now in my final year of study for my BSC in Digital and Technology solutions from the University of Roehampton.
What is it like to be an apprentice at Smiths?
It's incredible. Every day is different and produces more challenges that help me grow and expand my knowledge. Smiths has taught me a lot since I joined and offered me many different opportunities. Everyone is always willing to help and share knowledge. Being an apprentice at Smiths is a great experience.
What do you like the most about your role within the Business Information Services (BIS) at Smiths?
BIS is an awesome community of individuals who are always willing to help one another. Within Collaboration Services we make a fantastic team, we always work closely together to bring the best experience to our customers. Every day I come in to work knowing that the day is going to be different to the one before. This adds an extra element of excitement as you never know what to expect and the challenges that are ahead of you.
What are the top five advantages of being an apprentice at Smiths?
- Learning something new every day
- Gaining qualifications and being able to accommodate my degree around my day-to-day role
- New challenges that arise daily
- Having the opportunity to work with people from across the world
- Giving me the confidence to step outside of my comfort zone
What advice would you give to people thinking about becoming an apprentice?
Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Apprenticeships can open many doors to many different careers and opportunities. Different opportunities can arise, don’t be afraid to ask about them if they interest you.
After I joined Smiths in Client Services, I was offered the opportunity to look into other services. This is when I discovered my interest in SharePoint, Collaboration and Office365. I now work with Collaboration Services providing support for a variety of projects, mainly SharePoint, all over the world. This shows that anything can happen, opportunities do come around.
Most importantly, never be afraid to ask! At any point, if you are not sure about something, either during coursework or your role, just ask! Even if you think it sounds like a ridiculous question.