A career in telecoms offers opportunities for individuals to find their calling in a dynamic industry

Jamie Merrell, partner, on inspiring the next generation to embark on a career in digital infrastructure.

“I fell into telecoms”  is a phrase I hear so often within the sector, by some of the most talented and successful people I have worked with. It is testament to an industry that is often overlooked when considering your next career move. So why does it have such an established workforce with successful careers spanning decades?

Working in telecoms, and digital infrastructure more widely, exposes you to a fantastic, multi-disciplined professional network that you can learn from and collaborate with. Having this 360 lens is so important as the opportunity to move around and upskill with the sector is something very special and prevalent in telecoms.

I use my career so far as an example. In 2011, I took an opportunity to support with the deployment of temporary telecom trailers to large scale national events, the events piece being the hook for me. I realised very quickly that there was so much more to learn within telecoms with further opportunities to pursue. I was drawn to the buzz around the office and found the passion from the individuals working around me to be infectious.

Now, I’m a Chartered Surveyor and Partner within the infrastructure team at Cluttons,  a business leading the way to future proofing real estate through digital connectivity. Having not graduated university with a RICS accredited degree, it has been my experience in telecoms, and the support from my professional network around me that has driven me forward. The telecoms sector certainly embraced me and offered opportunities to accelerate my career. It’s important to me to give back to the sector by sharing my passion and support to new people coming into the sector.

Digital connectivity is no longer a nice to have, it’s an absolute necessity. The Government have ambitious connectivity targets which will undoubtably open more opportunities for an inspired workforce to come in, make their stamp, and drive the delivery of connectivity forwards.

Surveying in telecoms is niche and therefore the landscape of professionals come from either conventional estate degree backgrounds or have become surveyors due to their experience in the sector. There is a gap in existing accreditation and it is important we recognise talent and achievements across all people. Cluttons has recently joined the Institute for Telecommunications Professionals’ (ITP) steering group, along with other professionals in the industry, to discuss a professional accreditation programme. Our objectives are to learn from one another and scope an accreditation to acknowledge and attract likeminded, passionate people into the sector.

I am also part of the ITP’s Apprenticeship Working Group to collaborate with other leaders in the industry to ensure that the ITP apprenticeship programme delivers the needs of apprentices for the now and the future. 

We are also proud to have consulted on the creation of the Telecoms Surveyor of the Year Award, a first at this year’s ITP’s Annual Awards. We look forward to celebrating surveying and unite landlord and operator agents to further encourage collaboration across the sector.