NAW2023 – Oliver Watson

Since he’s been part of the team, Olly has completed two apprenticeships: Level 3 Infrastructure Engineer in 2018, and Level 4/5 Computing with Networking in 2021.

He is now studying to become a DataCore Certified Implementation Engineer.

• What made you want to study an apprenticeship over another type of course?

Sitting in a classroom was never my strongest way of learning. I find that hands-on projects, real-life examples or practical exercises help me understand and retain information better, because you are able to actively engage in the content.

• What attracted you to the courses you studied?

They provided a real entry point into an industry I was fascinated by. The hands-on experience and the opportunity to work with experienced professionals in real-world scenarios would be invaluable in offering a practical and dynamic learning environment.

• How does Waterstons support your apprenticeship studies?

They allowed me to develop successfully through the use of Research & Development days that I could take to focus on assignments and studying. Thanks to the Waterstons culture, there were always plenty of people around willing to help and give explanations which I’m eternally grateful for!

• What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your apprenticeship?

Following the crowd doesn’t always take you to where you want to be. Branching out and taking a path of my own has enabled me to jump start my career super early on in life, and I’m not sure I’d have found any better way.

• What are your future career plans?

I want to continue diving head first into opportunities, taking in all the knowledge I can get, especially around virtualisation and storage.

• How does Waterstons support employee learning in general?

It definitely doesn’t get pushed to one side! Waterstons invests in people by offering diverse learning opportunities; through the use of Research & Development days and funded exams or courses, you can smash through any goals you have.

It’s fantastic to work in an environment with such a great commitment to its people and their professional growth.

• What would you say to anyone looking at studying an apprenticeship?

Go for it! I can’t imagine there’s a better way to get a head start in your career.

To find out more about Olly, click here. Or visit our careers page for more information about the opportunities available.