Kickstaring careers: Emilio Fantocchio’s apprenticeship journey

We support our communities and promote diversity and inclusion by creating opportunities for young talent worldwide. Emilio Fantocchio, Vendor Product Specialist at Westcon UK, tells us about his apprenticeship journey with the business.

At Westcon-Comstor, we run many initiatives around the world to help young people get their foot on the career ladder. In the UK, this includes offering apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are a win-win for our business – our candidates get the chance to take a step into the tech industry, and we get to build a workforce in the areas we need to most.

We spoke to Emilio Fantocchio, Vendor Product Specialist at Westcon and successful apprentice, to learn more about his journey through the scheme.

Thanks for joining us, Emilio! Can you tell us what you do at Westcon?

Sure! I’m an Internal Vendor Specialist, so I support our partners through vendor engagement, my vendor knowledge, quoting capabilities, and sales training.

Can you give us a bit of an intro to the apprenticeship scheme?

The apprenticeship I did was an 18-month scheme.

It taught us all about sales and the industry. We started with the basics, which prepared us to reach out to potential customers and talk to people on the phone. I’d never done anything like sales, so I was quite nervous at first!

We also had to do coursework for the apprenticeship, which they graded and evaluated at the end of the 18 months. This really helped me learn what I needed to kickstart my career.

Can you tell us how you got started with the scheme?

During lockdown, I was looking for apprenticeships when someone suggested Westcon.

After researching the industry and learning about the company’s growth, I decided to apply and see where it would lead. Then, I had a successful interview and got placed straight into the apprenticeship program!

Westcon was really supportive throughout. The people here are always willing to help, and I couldn’t ask for much more from the company. I’ve grown and learned so much over the last three years – it’s crazy!

You received an award after your apprenticeship, didn’t you? Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Yes, I got the Vendor Specialist of the Year Award at our 2023 Sales Kick-Off. During the ceremony, I wasn’t expecting my name to come up. Even as they described the recipient, I thought “no, it can’t be me” – then they said my name! It’s always nice to be recognised for hard work, so that was quite a happy moment for me.

Nice! Can you tell us a little more about what attracted you to Westcon?

I liked how the industry is forever growing. With developments like working from home and the growing need for cybersecurity, I knew there would always be a demand for what Westcon offers.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work at Westcon?

Just go for it! Honestly, it’s a great place to learn, and they’ll give you everything you need to grow. In our Bracknell (UK) office alone, many people have come through apprenticeships. And within the company, lots of people have been here for years, which shows how great it is. 

Discover more about Careers at Westcon-Comstor.