Celebrating SolaaS’ First Qualified Level 3 IT Support Engineer

At SolaaS, we’re marking a proud milestone, Cleyon Johns has officially become our first fully qualified Level 3 IT Support Engineer after completing his apprenticeship. We’re confident he’s the first of many to follow in his footsteps.

We believe passionately in supporting young people into rewarding careers in IT, and apprenticeships are a powerful way to make that happen. They’re a win–win: the apprentice gains real-world experience, professional skills, and a recognised qualification, while we gain a talented, motivated team member who helps drive our growth and vision forward.

As part of marking Cleyon’s achievement, we sat down with him to talk about his apprenticeship experience and his advice for anyone considering the same path.

Learning While Working

“I found it a huge benefit to be able to work and study at the same time,” says Cleyon.
“A lot of what I learned on the course, like structured problem-solving, has directly helped me in my day-to-day role at SolaaS, and the skills I’ve picked up at work have helped with my studies too.”

He admits that combining work and study can feel daunting at first, but the right support made all the difference.
“René and the rest of the team were brilliant. I was given time during the day for online learning, and while there were some written assessments to do at home, it was all very manageable. I can’t recommend this route into a career highly enough.”

Inside the Apprenticeship

Alongside online modules, Cleyon produced a portfolio of projects, with the SolaaS team ensuring he had plenty of variety to showcase his skills.

“I also had to present on a technical topic,” he explains.
“Thanks to the exposure I’d had to our systems, I chose to talk about our Ninja IT monitoring and ticketing platform. The examiner said it was refreshing to hear about something new, which was a real confidence boost.”

Life as a First Line Support Engineer

Now fully qualified, Cleyon’s role centres on being the first point of contact for customers.
“I’m at the end of the phone when people call with questions or issues. I love taking ownership of a problem and seeing it through to resolution, plus it’s a great way to get to know our customers.”

Outside of his technical duties, Cleyon is also known for his alter-ego, “Agent Cleyon”, creating fun, engaging videos for SolaaS’ social media channels.

René Wheeler on Cleyon’s Journey

Rene Wheeler, MD at SolaaS, reflects on how far Cleyon has come:

“From the shy young man I interviewed over two years ago, Cleyon has thrived under the apprenticeship scheme and is now a vital part of our team.
His humour keeps us and our customers entertained, and his work ethic and problem-solving skills are exceptional. We’re incredibly proud of what he’s achieved.”

René also champions apprenticeships for other businesses:

“If you’re looking to grow your team, I highly recommend this route. Choosing the right apprenticeship partner, like TDM, and finding someone who fits your culture can be transformative. I’m always happy to share our experience.”

What’s Next for Cleyon?

Cleyon’s next challenge might be progressing to a Level 4 qualification, but for now, we’ll let him enjoy this well-earned success.

Congratulations, Agent Cleyon – mission accomplished!