From apprentice to full time employee: another apprenticeship success story

Ashfords' apprentice Ross Cobley has successfully completed his Level 3 Infrastructure Technician Apprenticeship following two years of study and on the job learning.

Ross joined Ashfords as a Facilities Assistant before transferring to the IT department where he began his apprenticeship. Working closely with the systems team, Ross helped to manage the multiple systems used across the business, as well as assisting with IT security maintenance.

When asked about his apprenticeship experience, Ross commented:

"I came to Ashfords with what was essentially a blank slate after studying IT only up to GSCE level. Since then, I've gained so much knowledge thanks to both my studies and learning through the day to day tasks I've been given in my role. I now have the confidence to work independently and I'm trusted to deal with queries that come in without supervision.

Doing an apprenticeship was definitely the right decision for me as it has provided a fast-track route to where I want to be - working in a systems role as a member of a great IT team."

Following the successful completion of his apprenticeship, Ross is now a fully-fledged IT Systems Administrator, taking on the former role of his supervisor following a promotion within the team.

IT Manager Pete Jones commented:

"Ross joined us from a completely non-IT role within the firm and instantly started making an impact on the team. His willingness to learn and the speed at which he could apply the knowledge gained from his apprenticeship to his everyday workload was a real asset.

When it came to Ross qualifying, there was never any doubt about whether we would take him on. He is a very well-liked and respected member of the team and we look forward to working with him as he progresses his career with Ashfords."

Twelve other apprentices are currently completing their qualifications across various departments in the business which will no doubt lead to similar success stories in the future.