Jacob Anderson joined the business after deciding the traditional classroom route wasn't for him. Since then, he's developed new technical skills, grown in confidence and become an important part of the team. I sat down with Jacob to talk about his apprenticeship journey so far, what he's learned, the challenges he's overcome and why he believes an apprenticeship has been the right path for him.
Choosing what to do after leaving school can feel like a huge decision, and for Jacob, it was not something that became clear straight away or fell neatly into place. Like a lot of people, he gave the traditional route a try first, heading into sixth form to study design engineering, sociology and history, with the idea that one of those subjects might eventually lead him in the right direction.
Out of the three, history was the one he connected with most, particularly the medieval side of things, which he found genuinely interesting.
“I did design engineering and sociology and history. But the focus really was design engineering.”
Even with that interest, the classroom environment never quite felt like the right fit for him. Sitting still for long periods, following the same structure day after day, and learning in a more traditional, academic way gradually became harder to stay motivated with, and over time it was something he could not ignore.
Although Jacob stayed on at sixth form for a while, he already had a feeling that he wanted to move into something more practical and hands-on, where he could be actively involved rather than just learning from a desk. He had previously completed an electrician course during secondary school, and that experience had stayed with him as something he genuinely enjoyed.
At one stage, becoming an electrician seemed like the obvious next step, and he even went as far as attending a college interview for a T-Level in electrical engineering. However, instead of committing to that path, he decided to stay with his A-levels a little longer to give himself more time to think things through.
“I did go to a college interview for a T-level in electrical engineering, but I decided to do A-levels instead to give myself more time to think, which turned out to be the wrong idea. It led me to leaving and not having anything to do for like two months.”
That period gave him time, but not much direction. He found himself reaching out to employers and trying to break into something more practical, but nothing quite came together at first. Then an opportunity came up that completely changed the direction he was heading in.
Jacob's route into the apprenticeship did not begin with a formal application or lengthy recruitment process. Paul Hibberd, Director and Business Development Manager at One2Call, already knew Jacob and believed he would be a good fit for the team. He invited Jacob to join One2Call on a temporary basis, giving him the opportunity to gain some hands-on experience and show what he could do.
That initial opportunity allowed Jacob to work alongside the team on live customer projects, giving him a real insight into the role while allowing One2Call to see how he approached the work. He quickly settled in, impressed those around him with his attitude and willingness to learn, and it soon became clear he had the right qualities to build a career with the company.
“Paul asked if I'd be interested in doing an apprenticeship. I thought, ‘Yeah, that sounds like a good idea for my future.”
After seeing how well Jacob performed during his temporary spell, One2Call offered him a permanent role through an apprenticeship. What started as a chance to prove himself quickly became the beginning of a long-term career in IT.
For many people, starting a new role can come with nerves or uncertainty, but for Jacob, the experience was very different. From the moment he stepped onto site, everything seemed to click into place in a way he had not felt before.
“The first experience was great. I kind of just got straight on with everyone, no doubts about it.”
That first job involved fibre cabling on a customer site, where he worked alongside the team and immediately got a feel for what day-to-day life in the role looked like. Instead of feeling out of place, he settled in quickly, which gave him a strong sense that he was on the right path.
Once the apprenticeship officially began, Jacob quickly realised that there was more to it than just turning up on site and getting stuck into the work. There was a clear structure behind the programme, designed to support both practical skills and technical understanding.
He is completing a Level 3 ICT Technician apprenticeship, delivered through One2Call and Learn Tech, with learning split across areas such as support, networks and telecoms.
“We have weekly two-hour learning classes, which are separated into different modules like cloud, network and cables. Then we have one-to-one support sessions every four weeks with a mentor. For the practical side, you take pictures or screenshots of your work, explain what you've done, and then link it to certain KSBs.”
It is not just about doing the job, but about understanding it properly, documenting progress, and building up evidence that reflects what you can actually do in practice.
When Jacob looks back on his progress so far, the biggest change that stands out to him is how much his confidence has grown, both in and out of work. That confidence has developed in different ways too, from how he interacts with people to how he approaches tasks and challenges on site.
“Mainly the confidence has built a lot. I’d say that’s the biggest part. When we got onto the technical stuff I was like, ‘Oh right… I don’t know anything here.’ But as I've learned more and gained experience, my confidence has grown massively.”
That moment of realisation could have knocked him back, but instead it pushed him to improve. He recognised where the gaps were and put the effort in to close them, and now that confidence shows in the way he carries himself and handles his work.
One of the clearest signs of how far Jacob has come is the range of technical skills he now uses as part of his everyday role, many of which were completely new to him when he first started.
From configuring communication systems like 3CX to setting up routers and working on installations, the difference in his ability is clear.
“I can configure 3CX systems, configure routers, set up laptops and terminate cables… and it was all brand new to me when I started.”
That kind of progress is hard to achieve without hands-on experience. It is not just about understanding how something works in theory, but about applying that knowledge in real situations again and again.
Jacob is honest about the fact that the most challenging part of the apprenticeship has not been the physical work, but the learning that sits alongside it. Not because it is impossible, but because it was all new and required time and effort to properly understand.
“Probably the learning aspect, because it was all brand new, and it was difficult to find time to put extra work in to learn and get up to scratch with everyone else. At the start of this year, I had like two weeks straight in the office and I just smashed it all out and got up to scratch with everyone else."
It showed that putting in the extra effort pays off. Apprenticeships offer a lot, but they also expect commitment in return.
A big part of Jacob’s development has been the support he has received from the team around him, which has made it much easier to learn and build confidence along the way.
“If I can’t do something, I’m never afraid to ask for help, even though sometimes it does feel like I’m nagging people a bit, but everyone’s always willing to help and show me what to do. There’s never any doubt about asking for help. If they can find time for you, they will.”
Having people willing to explain things properly and take the time to help has made a huge difference, especially in the early stages.
Alongside the technical development, Jacob has also grown as a person, becoming more confident socially and more aware of how to present himself in a professional environment.
“Again, confidence has gone up. Professionally, obviously my emails have become more formal. In school, if it was an email, I’d just send it… but now I make sure it’s much more professional.”
That kind of development is just as important as learning the technical side of the role. It is about communication, professionalism, and becoming someone who can work effectively with others.
There have been plenty of moments that stand out for Jacob, from getting things right for the first time to being recognised for the work he has put in. One of the most satisfying parts of the job comes when something he has worked on functions exactly as it should.
“Once everything's installed and I start configuring it, there's no better feeling than seeing it all work first time. It shows all the hard work you've put into the configuration has paid off.”
For Jacob, one of the standout moments was getting the opportunity to work at the football club he has supported since he was young, which meant a lot on a personal level.
“Probably finding out we were working at the team I support. Getting to go behind the scenes was brilliant. I didn't want to fanboy too much, but it was a great experience.”
Jacob is already thinking about what comes next, with a focus on continuing to grow, build his skills, and potentially progress onto a higher-level apprenticeship in the future.
“Grow with the company, learn as much as I can and be qualified.”
It is a simple way of putting it, but it reflects a strong mindset. He understands that progress comes from continuing to learn and taking opportunities as they come.
When asked for advice, Jacob keeps it honest and straightforward. He believes apprenticeships are a great route, but only if you are willing to fully commit and make sure it is the right fit for you.
“You’ve got to be willing to completely put yourself forward.”
He also encourages people to ask plenty of questions before committing.
“Ask them questions about what you’re going to do, because you really don’t want to step into the wrong thing and get stuck doing something you don’t like.”
It is practical advice that highlights the importance of understanding what you are signing up for and making sure it aligns with what you want.
Jacob’s journey shows how much can change when someone finds a path that genuinely suits them. Sixth form did not feel right, and the traditional classroom route was not where he was going to thrive, but once he stepped onto site and started learning in a hands-on environment, everything began to fall into place.
“The upsides outweigh the downsides because you get paid to learn. You earn a qualification, your communication skills grow, your confidence grows and your practical skills grow too.”
From cabling work to developing technical skills, building confidence and working behind the scenes at Sheffield Wednesday, he has already made significant progress. His apprenticeship journey is only just beginning.