Oracle Vision is a big supporter of the next generation, taking on apprentices to learn and develop so that they can help shape our business for the future. Last month we spoke to Kyle ‘Baz’ Wordsworth, and today we catch up with Nathan Livock to understand what it’s really like to be a trainee at Oracle Vision.
What has your day been like today?
Pretty steady, I’m back at an NHS Trust client who are upgrading the alarms on their wards. It’s a fairly typical day, I’m over here a lot.
What work do you enjoy here at Oracle Vision?
Honestly, I enjoy it all! This is the trade I wanted to get into since I was younger. One of my family members also works in security systems. After spending time with them growing up, I learned more about the work and I found it interesting.
What were you doing before you came to Oracle Vision?
I studied IT at university, but I wasn’t really enjoying it. I didn’t like the classroom – I wanted something more hands-on. I did get a similar role to this in another company, but I was really looking for somewhere I could learn and develop as part of a team.
What brought you here?
My sister is friends with Phil, on the team here, and he mentioned that Oracle Vision were taking on apprentices. It was all quite quick, from that conversation, to being interviewed, then finding myself in the job.
How are you finding it so far?
It’s brilliant. The management are fantastic – they really respect you here. You’re not just a staff member, you’re a person that they care about. There’s much more of a family feel.
What’s it like to be a trainee at Oracle Vision?
It feels good, because we’ve got responsibility. It’s really good that the management team trust us trainees going out on site like we are today, to get the job done. They try their best to get us into all different sites, working lots of jobs to broaden our knowledge. Ultimately it doesn’t just benefit me, it also benefits to company.
What studying do you do as part of the programme?
I go to college with Baz every six to eight weeks (normally, that is – things have been a bit up in the air with Covid). We’re doing a Level 3 Fire, Emergency & Security Systems Technician Apprenticeship. It’s very practical. In the classroom we spend a lot of time setting things up as though we were engineers. It’s a means to an end – I’d rather be on site actually getting the job done!
And when you’re not working, or studying here, what do you like to do?
There’s not a lot you can do at the moment, thanks to Covid! I’m happy enough to chill out at home. I really enjoy watching films, so that suits me.
If you could spend the day with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
I’d spend the day with Hollywood actor Adam Sandler, and we’d make a film.
OK, now for the famous quickfire round:
First gig? It was a festival – Download
Last gig? A Nirvana tribute band, Elvana, they were amazing! The frontman is an Elvis impersonator. It sounds weird but it works really well.
Favourite food? Chocolate
Favourite drink? Tea
Favourite place in the world? New York
Favourite film? Grown Ups
Favourite TV show? At the moment I’m watching Walking Dead
