Telecommunications specialist Team Telecom Group has hired its first apprentice to support continued global growth and help develop the UK's next generation of radio communications engineers.

Steven Fox has taken up a two-year apprenticeship within Team Simoco, the Derby-based radio communications specialist, which is part of Team Telecom Group.

Steven will work across all business activities, including engineering, despatch, product development, customer service, finance, sales and operations, gaining a solid base of radio communications and engineering skills. He will also be taking formal BTEC and NVQ qualifications in electrical engineering.

Team Telecom Group launched its apprenticeship scheme earlier this year to support ongoing expansion into new market sectors and new territories across the globe. Steven is the first to join the ongoing apprenticeship programme, which is running across all companies within the group, including Derby-based Team Simoco, Caldicot-based Indigo, Heathrow-based Air Radio and Australia-based ComGroup.

The scheme is designed to provide a combination of theory and hands-on experience for a career in the fast-growing telecommunications industry, and will help Team Telecom Group to ensure it has the engineers of the future to support its continuing expansion.

Mike Norfield, CEO of Team Telecom Group said: "Steven will get a solid understanding of how our industry operates. The combination of on-the-job training and formal qualifications will stand him in good stead for a fast-paced career in telecommunications, and to become a valuable member of our team."

Commenting on his apprenticeship, Steven Fox said: "I'm excited to be working with some of the UK's top engineers, and this apprenticeship will give me the opportunity to get valuable hands-on practical experience of all business areas.

"Team Telecom Group is a fast-growing company, and is expanding into new industry sectors all across the world - I'd very much like to be a part of this success, and to continue to grow and develop with the company and within the radio communications sector."

Steven has joined Team Simoco from Chellaston Secondary School in Derby, a designated technology college, where he studied electrical engineering and radio telecommunications, and which led him to apply for the apprenticeship.

Candidates interested in finding out more about Team Telecom Group's apprenticeship scheme should visit http://www.teamtelecomgroup.com/ for more details, or contact the company on 01332 375596.