Learning the ropes: local T Level students begin placements at FRN1

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Settling in – first impressions

Last week, Datum’s Farnborough site welcomed three T Level students from Farnborough College of Technology for a nine-week placement. Jack Clare-Campbell, Joseph Collyer, and Trisha Magar are studying the Digital Production, Design and Development T Level. This placement at Datum offers an opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry experience.

Having just started their placement, the students shared their expectations, hopes, and initial impressions of working in a data centre environment.

Why they chose their course

The T Level program is designed to provide students with a broad foundation in their first year, covering topics like legislation, business practices (including Scrum and Kanban), programming in Python, and IT fundamentals. In their second year, the focus shifts to full-stack web development, preparing them for real-world technical roles. 

For Jack Clare-Campbell, the decision to pursue a T Level stemmed from his passion for computer science, which began during his GCSEs: “I enjoyed creating programmes and watching them develop into something usable,” he explained. “I was confident I wanted to do something within computer science, and a T Level felt like the right choice over traditional A-Levels.”

Joseph Collyer cited his interest in both hardware and software: “The course offered a mix of software-based learning with opportunities to explore hardware fundamentals,” he said. Trisha Magar’s journey began with a love for gaming, which evolved into a curiosity about how systems work.

The value of this data centre placement

All three students agreed that spending time in a data centre is an invaluable experience for their studies and future careers. “This placement gives us a chance to see how a company operates in the technical industry,” Trisha noted. “It’s a great way to understand businesses and how they function.”

Joseph highlighted the hands-on nature of the placement as a key benefit: “Shadowing the team and seeing how things work day-to-day will give me proper insight into what data centre work is like,” he said. Jack added that he hopes to gain a comprehensive understanding of data centre operations, including supporting roles like client relations and finance.

The students’ expectations

When asked about what they’re most looking forward to, the students had varied responses. Jack is eager to work with the operations team, curious about the scope of their responsibilities in a colocation site. Joseph is also interested in the sales and financial aspects of the business, such as how racks are sold. Trisha, on the other hand, is particularly excited to get hands-on with cabling, an area she hasn’t explored much in college.

Preconceived ideas

Before starting their placement, the students had some preconceived notions about data centres. Trisha expected a very serious and professional environment, while Joseph anticipated a workplace that encourages questions and learning but heavily supervises actions to avoid issues. Jack expected Datum’s Farnborough site to be quite a busy workplace and wasn’t sure whether he and his fellow students would be first priority due to the nature of how everything works.

One common theme they all mentioned was the environmental impact of data centres: “Current media portrays data centres as massive consumers of energy and water,” Jack said. “I was surprised to learn that Datum’s most significant water usage is the little they use in the office, and that all energy comes from renewable sources.” Joseph added, “It’s clear that Datum has made sacrifices in profitability to reduce its environmental impact.”

Skills and challenges

The students also reflected on the skills they believe are crucial for working in a data centre such as network knowledge, problem-solving, and cable management: “Having an open mind and a willingness to learn is also essential,” Joseph pointed out.

As for challenges, Trisha anticipates needing time to grasp specific processes, while Jack expects the first week to involve a steep learning curve. However, all three are confident in their ability to adapt and make the most of this opportunity.

Over the next nine weeks, they’ll gain hands-on experience, deepen their technical knowledge, and challenge their preconceived ideas about data centres. We’re hoping to catch up with the students again towards the end of their placement to find out how their perceptions have evolved and what they’ve learned from their time at Datum.

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