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The apprenticeship was the best way to learn. In IT, what you learn from a book and real life are totally different. Doing it in the workplace keeps your skills up to date; IT moves so fast. A traditional IT course is almost immediately out of date, but as the apprenticeship is work-based learning, the skills are always current and relevant.
Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background prior to working for Lift Schools.
I’m originally from Bangladesh and had worked as a Deputy Manager at Tesco for the last 10 years. I attempted to change careers a couple of times, but I couldn't get the confidence because changing direction is a big challenge. It was a risk. I decided that if I went straight into IT, it would be a big challenge because things change so fast.
The apprenticeship model allows you to learn new skills whilst you earn.
Having three kids and a family means that, like most adults, spending £15,000 on a course and taking time out is very difficult. The Lift Schools apprenticeship levy covered the training costs, which was to the benefit of me personally and Lift.
The value of the programme: earn while you learn
For Ziaur, the apprenticeship provided a vital bridge to the modern tech landscape. It allowed him to transition into a new sector without the financial or time constraints of traditional training routes.
Impact in the workplace: major projects and work undertaken
Ziaur has evolved from a learner into the primary point of contact for critical technical infrastructure at Lift Schools.
Key projects:
Growth in mindset: proactive problem solving
Ziaur highlights a shift in his professional behavior- moving from reactive "fixes" to investigating the root cause of issues to save the organisation time.
"Troubleshooting-wise, I used to just fix the problem. Now I try to find out the root cause. For example, I found devices were running slow because updates were pending. Now I educate staff on how to schedule updates so the system stays fast and secure."
Support from Lift Schools
The success of the apprenticeship was anchored in the relationship between Ziaur and his dedicated tutor, who brought deep industry perspective to the learning process.
"My tutor, Nick, was a really good teacher and really friendly. He has vast experience in education, IT, and as a manager, which made a huge difference. Even on the weekend, he said, 'If you need help, just give me a text.'
He always gave me the opportunity to research more and explained things clearly if I didn't understand."
The verdict:
Ziaur is now looking toward a future in Cybersecurity and is considering the Level 4 Digital Product Manager apprenticeship to continue his professional growth within the trust.
"I would definitely suggest: get the apprenticeship. It’s a good way of learning, plus they understand the environment and the organisation. It saves huge time because the talent is grown from within."
Most people think that apprenticeships are just for younger people and those new to job roles, but that just isn’t true. The environment is really supportive, and I can get through to the apprenticeships team and my tutors by email, phone, or face-to-face.
Since starting the apprenticeship, I'm much more confident in myself and the way I communicate. I'm naturally quite a shy person, and I think the apprenticeship has helped me to overcome that.
My trainer spent two years supporting me in every single way possible, and I am so grateful for her. She never once doubted my abilities to reach my goals, and supported me throughout.
