"It is my greatest hope that the energy and effort I put into others will be recognised by those individuals and enable them to rise to heights of achievement that they might not even know they were capable of."
What led you to work for PETA?
Hello, I’m Jonathan.
IT has been a major part of my working and personal life, which started when I built my first computer at the age of 14.
My career started with the Emergency Services in Surrey, where I was introduced to an array of specialist and bespoke computer systems and software. After becoming a subject matter expert, I found a passion for training those systems to all levels of personnel.
Combining my passion for IT and Training, I am proud to say that I supported training transformation projects for our Royal Air Force, in several technical and engineering specialisms.
In 2012 I sought new experiences and challenges, coming to work at PETA Ltd, which have been the most enjoyable 11 years of my career. Being given the trust of our then Senior Manager, my colleagues and I redesigned the delivery of Apprenticeship Frameworks.
Each training course was an opportunity to assist our apprentices with their professional and personal development. With every delivery I looked for new and innovative ways of exceeding their expectations.
With the implementation of the new Apprenticeship Standards, the growth of PETA’s provision continued to diversify, reaching new employers and individuals who previously did not have opportunities for quality training and careers.
I am thrilled to support PETA in developing both training material and delivering training for Apprentices, to aid them in making a positive impact in their workplace, benefitting their employers and the IT Industry as a whole.
What is your role at PETA and what drives you to do what you do?
As the Lead Trainer in the ICT Training Department, my highest priority is the level of service and quality we provide to apprentices and their employers. During instructor led training my goal is to make it interactive, engaging, and as inclusive as possible.
As a Learning and Development Coach, I aim to create a supportive and empowering environment where the apprentices are given what they need to become successful. There will be great times but during the harder times, I will be there to provide advice and guidance, so they know there is a community of people behind them who want them to achieve.
My fundamental driving force continues to be – ‘our apprentices are with us for a comparatively short time during their careers but if I have the ability to give them the right footing for their next step after the programme is done, then it will be on solid ground.’
What knowledge and experience do you draw upon for your role?
Throughout my career, I have trained people from a diverse background and abilities range on bespoke and specialist software, systems and solutions; designing training programmes that give the necessary skills and knowledge to get the job done.
I have studied towards and achieved qualifications from Microsoft, ITIL, BCS and CompTIA in specialist IT areas (Server, Security, Cloud, Networking, Software), so I could embed best practices and techniques into apprentice training, developing them towards their goals.
Having trained, assessed and mentored apprentices for 11 years, in hundreds of companies and different IT or business environments, my exposure to the IT Industry continues to be both wide and detailed.
How do you approach your role on a day-to-day basis? What skills are required?
I am in a very fortuitous position to love what I do for a job and the place where I work. For the last 11 years of working at PETA Ltd, never have I woken up and felt that I do not want to go to work. Every day is a happy day, regardless of if it is Monday or not, or if there are going to be challenges. This has been because of the trust and faith put in me by PETA (starting with Dawn Halfacre) to do the job, knowing that I would give it everything I had.
The list of skills for my various roles are constantly being either refined or grown. The ability to adapt to different situations related to the operations of the business, the personal needs of staff or apprentices is vital. Pastoral care is essential for the apprentices (and sometimes their employers) during the apprenticeship journey, including training, mentorship in the workplace and being their trusted point of contact.
What's your teaching style?
In a word, blended, like a perfect smoothie.
Using predominantly visuals, I will engage the apprentices with examples from the many successful apprentices that have come before them at PETA, along with my own experience. Getting hands-on, but when that is not possible, encouraging development through peer-to-peer exercises, activities and challenges, consolidating knowledge thereafter.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
At the time of writing this, my son is 8 years old, and he is and continues to be the centre of my world. Becoming a father has been the most rewarding experience of my life, seeing and helping him to grow into a wonderful person, that I am deeply proud of.
What are your personal values, and what is important to you?
It is my greatest hope that the energy and effort I put into others will be recognised by those individuals and enable them to rise to heights of achievement that they might not even know they were capable of. This comes from the trust that is placed in me by those individuals and my aspiration to fulfil that trusted position.