Day 2 - Networks: 5G

Key qualifications: BSc Geography.

What does your job involve? As a sales specialist, I sell Immersive Spaces and 5G Rapid Sites amongst other solutions. This involves taking our immersive unit to various places around the UK to showcase its capabilities. Seeing the excitement from our customers as we take them virtually into Space or under the Sea is just incredible!

How did you get into your current role? I started at EE in Consumer Sales in 2020 at the Plymouth call centre. I made the move to Bristol for my graduate sales role last year and I'm so happy I made the move!

What did you want to be when you were younger? A P.E. Teacher - I absolutely loved doing sports growing up, so the thought of doing P.E. all day felt like the perfect job!

What do you do outside work? I'm a keen runner, I play netball and love kickboxing! Fun fact: whilst working at EE, I answered a call from a famous TV star on boxing day!

Key qualifications: Computer Science & Prince2.

What does your job involve? My job involves building solutions for customers using new and advanced technologies. I have a passion for building an immersive eco-system, using solutions such as Immersive Spaces, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Extended Reality (XR) to help organisations on their journey towards the metaverse.

How did you get into your current role? As a deal architect, I was building solutions from all areas of the BT portfolio and started focusing more on 5G. This then led me to getting involved in other new technologies, and when Division-X was formed I was quick to apply for a role there, as this area purely focuses on new and leading technology.

What did you want to be when you were younger? A forest ranger. I love the outdoors and this seemed like the perfect role to be in the elements all year long.

What do you do outside work? I do triathlons and love the variety this brings from all three disciplines (swim, bike, run). I made it to the GB age group team to compete at the World Championships in Canada back in 2020.

Key qualifications: BTEC Extended Diploma in IT, working towards a Digital Technology Solutions Degree specialising in Software Engineering.

What does your job involve? I work in the Core Network Systems team, so I get to build applications that showcase the capabilities of our 5G Mobile network. The best thing about my job is getting to experiment with building different technologies, including video games and Lego robots!

How did you get into your current role? I came to BT straight from school and was placed in a 6-month rotation in my team before moving placements. I loved it so much I came back to finish the last 2 years of my degree here!

What did you want to be when you were younger? I wanted to be a teacher, I loved learning and sharing my knowledge.

What do you do outside work? Outside work I like to spend time with my friends gaming, going shopping, and I also love cooking and learning new recipes!

Key qualifications: BSc, MBA, CMgr, FCMI, MIET.

What does your job involve? I work with our customers to understand how brand new emerging technology such as AI, 5G, Robotics and IoT can be used to help their business, their workers and end customers.

How did you get into your current role? I joined BT as a graduate in 2003 starting in a technology role in our labs, developing our future solutions for customers. I progressed to working with customers directly and ended up leading our global design teams. My current role was too good to miss, working with brand new, amazing technology again and making it a reality. Despite being in the business for over 20 years, I also recently completed a Senior Leadership Apprenticeship and MBA programme - you're never too old to learn!

What did you want to be when you were younger? I always had a fascination with technology ever since I had my first computer - a ZX Spectrum 48K! I knew that engineering and technology was where I wanted to work, I just wasn't sure exactly what, as things changed so fast.

What do you do outside work? I love spending time with my family at home and trips away. I especially enjoy building Lego with my 6 year old son (who is way better at it than me!).

Key qualifications: FdSC in Communications Technologies: Network Engineering as part of my three-year apprenticeship course. We were then offered the chance to do an extra year of university to make it into a full BSc (Hons) in Digital & Technology Solutions.

What does your job involve? The Network Test team work to ensure new elements of the BT networks function as needed before they're rolled out to customers. The model environment is a duplicate of the live network and allows us to test both new hardware and software. Our role is a mixture of physical lab work and running test cases.

How did you get into your current role? When I finished my A Levels, I applied to the BT Apprenticeship and joined the Networks course. I did a three-year university course to get a Foundation Degree in Networking. I was lucky enough to be offered an extra year at university to then have a full degree. When I finished my apprenticeship, I applied for a few different roles around BT that I had experienced during apprentice rotations. I was really pleased to be offered a role in Network Test and I thought Test would offer the biggest range of tasks and technology to work with. I am still in the Test team since finishing my apprenticeship and as expected, I have worked with many kinds of routers, switches and now we are exploring test automation.

What did you want to be when you were younger? I always thought I would work with animals, ideally at a zoo. My High School work experience was in a pet shop for a week and then I assisted at a dog grooming parlour for the second week. I have always enjoyed being with animals and I just assumed that that would be what I did for a career as well. Instead, I work with technology and visit the zoo as much as possible!

What do you do outside work? After recently moving out and now having a garden, I have started gardening. I enjoy planting seeds to watch them become beautiful flowers that attract bees into the garden. I would also like to try growing lots of different vegetables. However, this is easier said than done as there is always something looking to eat whatever you're growing! The theme of creation continues when I try out interesting bakes. I recently cooked up a chocolate and beetroot cake, which was very pink. I also experimented with a chocolate and mayonnaise traybake which was actually very delicious! It's lovely to put my bakes to taste testers at the monthly Coffee & Cake charity fundraising bake sale every month.

Key qualifications: HND in Electronic Engineering.

What does your job involve? My team and I are developing new 5G Private Network solutions and services for UK Industries & Businesses. This involves working with with customers, cellular architects & designers, and global leaders in technology to come up with new and innovative solutions.

How did you get into your current role? I gained a lot of my technical and life skills through my first career in the Military. This gave me a good foundation to excel in the Mobile Industry. The rest is hard work, taking on new challenges, as well as recognising good opportunities and going for them!

What did you want to be when you were younger? I always wanted to be in the Military.

What do you do outside work? I love the outdoors. My main passions are Paragliding, Sailing and Rugby. I recently joined The Rock Project to improve my guitar playing and be in a band. I don't think Eric Clapton has anything to worry about... 😊