Virgin Media O2 announces plans to recruit 100 apprentices across the UK by the end of 2021. The announcement comes after the newly established company set out its plans to invest £10bn in the UK over the next five years.
The apprenticeship roles reinforce Virgin Media O2’s commitment to helping individuals build experience, skills and knowledge through vocational and academic learning while earning a salary. Apprentices will earn a Telecoms Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship qualification on completion.
News of these roles come as new research from Virgin Media O2, carried out by YouthSight, finds that the Gen Z workforce believe the top skills they bring to the table are a strong grasp of technology (62%), a greater awareness of diversity (34%) and innovative thinking (31%).
This generation of digital natives are keen to make the most of their skill set, with over 1 in 5 (22%) interested in pursuing a career in tech and telecommunications. However, the data shows a gender divide still prevails in STEM, with 35% of men keen to pursue a tech career compared to just 8% of women. Engineering is one of the top ten career pathways (14%) – but men (21%) are three times more likely than women (7%) to pursue jobs in this field.
The research also indicated lingering concerns about the health of the job market post-COVID-19, with young people citing job security (57%) as second only to interest in their chosen field (72%) as very important when it comes to choosing a sector to work in.
Nicola Moore, Director of People Partnering, Talent and Careers at Virgin Media O2, said: “Young people have a huge amount to offer the workplace. Our research shows that as true digital natives, Gen Z are drawn to careers in tech and engineering – but there is still a stark gender divide to overcome. We’ll continue to nurture and invest in talent as they enter the job market – and it’s so important that women know that this is absolutely a career path for them. We’ll provide the training and support all successful applicants need to succeed.”
Virgin Media O2 launched in June 2021, combining the UK’s largest and most reliable mobile network with a broadband network offering the fastest widely-available speeds. It is a customer-first organisation that brings a range of connectivity services together in one place with a clear mission: to upgrade the nation.
For more information, visit: https://careers.virginmedia.com/future-careers/apprenticeships/
