More than 120 representatives from across the telecom industry met at Vodafone’s HQ in Newbury, Berkshire earlier in the year to discuss the need to train up the next generation of telecom engineers.
The event included speakers from Vodafone, Ericsson, The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals and mobile infrastructure experts Cornerstone.
Together, they addressed the growing need of more recruits entering the industry, amid a backdrop of the digital economy continuing to grow at an extraordinary rate.
The event was organised by the Cellular Network Field Engineer (CNFE) trailblazer committee, a cross-industry organisation that counts Vodafone and Cornerstone among its members.
CNFE’s remit includes identifying, educating and developing the appropriate education pathways in school curriculum and college courses to encourage young people to consider telecom engineering as a future career path.
The organisation has also created an apprenticeship scheme to address the skills required for a future in the field.
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Andrew Murchison, Access Assurance Manager, Vodafone UK, who also sits on the CNFE committee, said: “We know that the next generation of multi-skilled telecom engineers will play a crucial part in helping to meet the demands of the sector, which is why we are committed to working across both education and the telecoms industry to develop the talent needed to support a brighter future.”
Fred Sundin, UK Head of Network Development, Vodafone UK, said: “Our industry is built by our engineers. Without the next generation, the industry cannot continue to flourish and, therefore, the UK economy will suffer as a result. We need to deliver the engineers of the future, so I’m fully supportive of CNFE and its work to address this issue.”
Vodafone’s own apprenticeship programme is now open and includes positions across their network team, including Network & Field Engineering. More information is available on the Vodafone Careers website.
For further information on CNFE, visit the CNFE website.
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