Kesani York, 28, from Hillingdon, Greater London, has made a significant career transition from serving as a Metropolitan Police officer to becoming a data engineer apprentice at Virgin Media O2. Three years after leaving the police force, York is currently engaged in a degree apprenticeship, pursuing a Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions qualification that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree.

York described his daily work in the technology sector as varied, encompassing tasks such as coding, managing platforms like Google Cloud, and participating in machine-learning projects. His role often involves interacting with stakeholders to clarify business needs, building data pipelines, and analyzing data sets. Currently, he is leading a final-year project that focuses on analyzing mobile network performance along railway lines.

One of the aspects York values most at Virgin Media O2 is the workplace culture, which he said fosters genuine diversity and inclusion. He emphasized the openness and supportiveness of his colleagues, highlighting the importance of these elements to his learning experience as an apprentice. Additionally, he noted that the apprenticeship compensation is competitive.

York identified stakeholder management as a key challenge in his new role, pointing out the difficulty in effectively communicating complex technical concepts and limitations to colleagues without technical backgrounds. The fast-paced nature of the technology industry, with its pressing deadlines, also demands strong time management skills.

Before entering the technology sector, York served as an immediate response officer and borough medic in the police force, as well as working in youth and gang engagement roles. Although policing and data engineering appear distinct, York noted that many skills—such as analytical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, communication, and maintaining composure under pressure—proved transferable and beneficial in his current field.

Seeking more flexibility and time for family and personal life motivated York's career change. In his apprenticeship, he works four days a week and dedicates Fridays to university study. However, he acknowledged the challenge of balancing overlapping deadlines between academic and professional responsibilities, underscoring how he has developed stronger time management skills as a result.

York also addressed initial concerns about being older than many of his fellow apprentices, but found that shared experiences and a willingness to learn quickly bridged the age gap. He advocates apprenticeships as a valuable route into new careers at any stage of life, emphasizing that life experience and transferable skills can provide an advantage in adapting to new industries.

Reflecting on his journey, York encourages others considering career changes or looking to acquire new skills to explore apprenticeships as a practical option that enables learning, earning, and gaining hands-on experience simultaneously.