RNLI IT apprentice case study
Joe Fulcher is in his first year as an IT apprentice at the RNLI’s headquarters in Poole, Dorset. Ashley Day finished his IT apprenticeship with the RNLI last year, and now works as a Service Desk Analyst for the charity and helps to train Joe.
'An apprenticeship at the RNLI is really good because you get a qualification at the end of it, and you also get hands-on experience in the work place. If you’re looking at doing an apprenticeship, definitely go for it.’ Ashley Day, former RNLI IT apprentice.
Joe is in the first five months of his 18 month IT apprenticeship with the RNLI. As part of his apprenticeship, he spends one day a week at college where he is studying towards his Level 3 Infrastructure Technician apprenticeship. Talking about his apprenticeship Joe said, ‘I’ve always been interested in IT. I decided to do an apprenticeship because the fact that the work is really hands-on appealed to me, rather than learning about it in a classroom-based environment.
‘I’d recommend anybody who prefers a hands-on environment over theoretical classroom-based work to do an apprenticeship, because you get technical experience as well as learning the theory from the college course.
‘I was really proud the first time I managed to do a printer install by myself. I’d watched my colleagues do it before and had learnt from them. It was rewarding being able to help the person out on my own.
‘The RNLI is a really good place to work and everyone is really friendly. Having Ashley train me is good because if I need any assistance then, because he has already been through it, he’s good at giving a helping hand.’
Ashley finished his IT apprenticeship with the RNLI last March. After finishing his IT apprenticeship, he progressed on to become a Service Desk Analyst for the RNLI, and is helping to train Joe.
Ashley said, ‘I learnt a lot from being an IT apprentice at the RNLI. I learnt from other members of the team, and learnt a lot of skills on the job. My apprenticeship was two years long. I decided to do an apprenticeship because I didn’t feel like university was for me. I liked IT, and the hands-on experience of an apprenticeship was really appealing so it felt like the right decision. Having completed my apprenticeship, it’s nice to be able to teach Joe some of the skills I have learnt.
‘The RNLI is a really nice place to work, and it was really good place to do my apprenticeship – I learnt a lot about IT from my apprenticeship, and I also learnt a lot about the charity. I’m proud to work here.’
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.