DANIELLA Barata, 23 – Information Communications Technician Apprentice of the Year

Daniella Barata has been named Information Communications Technician Apprentice of the Year at Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Apprenticeship & Work Placememt Awards, recognising her perseverance, growth and commitment throughout her ICT apprenticeship.

Winning the award came as a surprise for Dani, but one that meant a great deal.

“Winning this award showed me that my hard work has been noticed,” she said. “It gave me a real sense of achievement.”

As a hands-on learner, Dani found some aspects of her apprenticeship more challenging than others – particularly topics that she didn’t encounter regularly in the workplace.

“There were areas of my studies that I didn’t come across day to day at work, which made them harder to understand at first,” she explained. “With extra studying and using a variety of learning resources, I eventually gained a better understanding.”

That determination paid off. One of Dani’s proudest achievements was passing all of her exams, including Networking, which she describes as one of the most demanding parts of the course.

Alongside her studies, Dani gained valuable, real-world experience in the workplace. Her role involved resolving IT issues, troubleshooting problems, escalating tickets and developing strong customer service and communication skills.

“My experience taught me how to handle time-sensitive tasks and stressful situations calmly,” she said. “It’s helped me become much more confident in my knowledge and abilities.”

Dani’s apprenticeship followed a full-time structure, with one designated study day each week. This balance allowed her to build technical knowledge at college while applying it directly in the workplace.

“My study days gave me a much deeper understanding of topics like troubleshooting, networking and cybersecurity,” she said. “Being able to apply that learning straight away really helped everything click.”

Choosing an apprenticeship was a natural decision for Dani, who knew that hands-on learning was the best fit for her.

“As a hands-on learner, I felt an apprenticeship would be the most effective way to learn,” she said. “It was also an excellent way to gain experience while earning qualifications.”

Reflecting on her journey, Dani believes apprenticeships help people develop far more than technical skills alone.

“You don’t just learn theory,” she said. “You learn how to work as part of a team, communicate effectively, be independent and actually apply what you know.”

For Dani, the experience has been transformative. “This apprenticeship has been my most enjoyable learning experience,” she said. “I’ve gained valuable knowledge, been part of a really supportive team and it’s put me on a clear path towards a career in IT.”

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