NAW 2023: From Military to Tech

10o February 2023

National Apprenticeship Week is a time to celebrate the impact that apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. At Chetwood, we’re proud to offer opportunities for individuals like Shane to start a new career path in the technology and banking industry.

We sat down with Shane to hear more about his experience as a Service Management Apprentice at Chetwood. With 10 years of service in the Armed Forces, Shane always had a passion for the technical side of things but found it difficult to find the right opportunity to showcase his skills. Fortunately, we’ve been lucky to welcome Shane to the Chetwood team through our apprenticeship programme!

Meet Shane

Hi there, my name is Shane and I’m a 34 year old Service Management Apprentice at Chetwood. As a part of the Service Management team, I collaborate across several areas of the bank to create a seamless user experience by protecting, maintaining, and improving the stability of our services.

I’ve been with Chetwood for just over three months now and it’s been an incredible journey so far. Before I joined this apprenticeship scheme at Chetwood, I was in the Armed Forces for 10 years and then joined my family-run company.

Why I chose Chetwood

I’ve always been technically minded and loved to know how things worked, but I found it difficult to be seen and given a chance to prove myself without prior qualifications in the field. I was struggling to find a way to break into the tech industry and make a change in my career when I stumbled upon the Chetwood apprenticeship scheme. I was ecstatic to finally have the chance to turn my passion into a career, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to join Chetwood.

Development and life at Chetwood

Since joining Chetwood, my development has been fast-paced and I’ve learned so much in just a few short months.

A typical day for me varies, and I find that I’m always being challenged and learning something new. One day I might be talking to the development team, and the next day I’m working with customer services.

I’ve learned a range of skills, from AWS to database queries and SQL, and I’m always learning more. During my apprenticeship, I’ll also be attending college to earn my BTEC diploma in Professional Competence for IT and Telecoms Professionals, and BTEC Level 3 Certificate in ICT systems and Principles.

The culture at Chetwood is not only supportive, but resourceful as well. If I need anything to help me progress, I know that I can turn to my peers for advice and support. It’s a great place to work and I feel proud to be a part of the team.

Future goals

My future career goals are to continue learning and finding out what area of technology I’m most passionate about. I truly believe that technology is the future, and to be a part of it is a blessing. I want to continue to develop my skills and make a real impact in the industry.

If you’re considering a career change into banking or technology, I highly recommend starting with Chetwood. With a friendly face and all the resources you need to progress, it’s the perfect place to start your journey. I hope this has given you some insight into my experiences as an Apprentice at Chetwood and I can’t wait to see where my journey takes me next.

Check out our current openings on our Careers page and follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on future apprenticeship opportunities!