Cornwall-based broadband provider Wildanet has welcomed the latest intake of apprentices to its Technical Training Academy, building on the success of its first two rounds of apprenticeships and reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to developing local digital skills.
The class of 2025/26 is the largest yet, bringing nine new apprentices into the Academy, ranging in age from 17 to 36 and drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds. Candidates include a former college student, tree surgeon, delivery driver and water industry employee. None had previous experience in telecoms, highlighting the Academy’s mission to identify potential and open up new career pathways into the digital sector.
Following an intensive training programme, the new apprentices are expected to begin delivering services to customers after just four months, supporting Wildanet’s continued rollout of full fibre broadband across Cornwall and Devon.
The new intake follows the successful completion of the Academy’s first two cohorts, which have already demonstrated the impact of Wildanet’s investment in training and career development.
Cohort one saw all four apprentices successfully pass – three with distinctions – and three of the group went on to secure long term employment with Wildanet, two as installation engineers and one having progressed into a sales role. One apprentice was also shortlisted in the prestigious Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards 2025.
Cohort two included six apprentices, with five distinctions and one pass achieved. Five remain with the business, four as installation engineers and one having progressed into the role of Academy Coordinator, The sixth has gone on to join the Royal Signals, further underlining the high standard of training delivered by the Academy.
Ian Carmichael, Head of the Wildanet Technical Training Academy, said the latest intake reflects both the success and ambition of the programme.
“What we are seeing now is the real, tangible impact of the Academy. Our first two cohorts have achieved exceptional results and gone on to build meaningful careers, either within Wildanet or beyond. Our newest apprentices bring a mix of ages, life experience and backgrounds and that diversity is a real strength. None came from telecoms, but through structured training, mentoring and hands-on experience, they are already developing the skills needed to deliver high-quality services to our customers.”
Launched in 2023, the Wildanet Technical Training Academy is a centre of excellence designed to train the next generation of telecoms engineers and support the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband across rural and hard-to-reach communities. Developed in partnership with Truro and Penwith College, the Academy is central to Wildanet’s wider commitment to digital inclusion, skills development and sustainable regional growth.
Julie-Anne Sunderland, Chief People Officer at Wildanet, said the Academy is playing a vital role in supporting both the company’s growth and the region’s digital future.
“From the outset, our ambition was to create more than just an apprenticeship scheme; we wanted to attract talented individuals, support them to learn and build long-term careers and at the same time leave a lasting skills legacy for Cornwall and the South West.
“Seeing apprentices progress into engineering roles and leadership positions with company, and indeed within the Academy itself, or to go on to highly respected careers outside the business, is a powerful endorsement of the quality of training we are delivering. This latest cohort is another important step forward as we continue to invest in people, opportunity and the future workforce needed to support the region’s digital connectivity.”
