Overview

This occupation is found in large, medium and small businesses, across all sectors, and within public, private, and voluntary bodies. Network engineers are a key occupation in most organisations, which are increasingly dependent on their physical and virtual networks. Digital technologies are increasingly being applied across business functions, to maximise productivity. Organisations of all types are increasingly applying digital technologies across all their business functions to maximise productivity.

The demand for people who can manage, build, maintain on-site, cloud and hybrid networks are increasing. This is due to technological developments and emerging new technologies. The broad purpose of the occupation is to install networks, maintain them, and to offer technical support to users, where necessary.

Small organisations may require the network engineer to work alone or as part of a team to securely monitor performance, maintain functionality and to troubleshoot virtual, local area network or respective components which may include Wi-Fi configuration.

Within a medium sized organisation, the network engineer will typically be part of a team but may work individually on network tasks to securely monitor, troubleshoot and maintain a local or wide area network infrastructure or components (remotely or on site). This may include Wi-Fi configuration.

Within a large organisation, the network engineer will typically be part of a team and may be involved physically or remotely in the use of up-to-date technologies and techniques, whilst securely maintaining, troubleshooting, monitoring, and changing, complex networks, this may include Wi-Fi configuration.

A network engineer provides networks and systems to deliver the objectives of their organisation. They will make sure that systems are working at optimum capacity and problem solve where needed. To be able to do this effectively a network engineer must interpret technical information and understand organisational requirements and expectations. They support delivery of legislatively compliant solutions to challenges in network infrastructure.

Network engineers may deal with both hardware and software issues. They are a key part of resolving issues when networks fail, helping to troubleshoot and resolve identified problems and performance issues with the network, to ensure service is resumed and downtime minimised. Network engineers help customers, both technical and non-technical to install networks, maintain them, and offer technical support to users where necessary.

Network engineers can be both customers facing or internal. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation may interact with a wide variety of stakeholders, face to face or remotely, by using a range of technologies. They may be working independently or collaboratively as part of a team. They will be aware of their organisational escalation structure and understand their role in their team.

Apprenticeship Assessment

Each assessment organisation is responsible for designing its own assessments in line with the apprenticeship standard. The Academy for Project Management has developed an assessment model that allows apprentices to demonstrate competence against the required assessment outcomes. Comprehensive guidance and resources are provided to support both apprentices and training providers.

The assessment for the Network Engineer includes:

• At least one simulation

And the choice of a:

• professional discussion
• portfolio
• presentation
• question and answer
• case study
• additional simulation

The standard also includes Employability Skills and Behaviours (EBs), which must be demonstrated consistently by the apprentice throughout the programme. Employers are required to formally confirm this before completion.

Assessment Timing

Components of the assessment may be scheduled at appropriate points during the apprenticeship. The Academy for Project Management works closely with training providers to ensure assessments are timed effectively, allowing apprentices to demonstrate their skills and knowledge at key stages in their development.

Additional information on the apprenticeship standard and the assessment process can be viewed here.

Becoming a Centre

Training providers interested in delivering elements of the assessment internally can explore the Centre model with us. Guidance is available on how the model operates and the steps required to become an approved Centre. For more information, please contact administration@academy4pm.com