Prospect Community Housing
The challenge
As the IT Officer at Prospect Community Housing, I’m responsible for supporting all aspects of our IT infrastructure – from day-to-day tech support to long-term projects like system upgrades and security improvements.
With the increasing cybersecurity risks facing housing associations, I wanted to deepen my knowledge and take a more strategic approach to IT security. I needed a development opportunity that would not only enhance my skills but also deliver tangible benefits to the organisation.
The solution
To meet this challenge, I enrolled in a Modern Apprenticeship in Cybersecurity. The
programme provided a strong foundation in threat intelligence, incident response,
security policies, and risk management. Its practical, hands-on approach meant I
could immediately apply what I was learning to my role.
A key achievement was leading a full review and refresh of our internal cybersecurity
policies. I introduced a streamlined incident reporting process, improved phishing
awareness among staff, and tightened access controls. These changes have already
made a measurable difference – during a recent cyber health check, external partners
praised our improved documentation and reduced vulnerabilities.
The apprenticeship also covered project management, which has helped us deliver
IT projects more efficiently. We now have a clearer structure for planning, resourcing,
and monitoring projects, which has improved communication, reduced delays, and
aligned our work more closely with organisational goals
“This experience has shown how apprenticeships can be a powerful tool for developing talent, especially in smaller organisations where individuals often wear many hats. I’d recommend it to anyone in IT who wants to stay ahead of the curve and make a meaningful impact in their role.”
Leigh Pettigrew
IT Officer, Prospect Community Housing
The result
The apprenticeship has had a real and lasting impact – both for me and for Prospect Community Housing. It’s helped me grow professionally and given me the confidence to take a more strategic role in shaping our IT security. The improvements we’ve made have been recognised externally and have contributed to a stronger security culture across the organisation.
Interested in upskilling your workforce? Explore our apprenticeship programmes.