Computing Students Get Their ‘Heads In The Cloud’, At Rackspace HQ

Bucks UTC Sixth Form Computing students were recently invited into Rackspace’s London office for the day, for a unique insight into the way the world’s top cloud-management company operates.

Students began by exploring the awe-inspiring interiors, complete with a Mini car and a slide, with fellow ‘Rackers’ explaining how the environment promoted a positive atmosphere, where work output and good attitudes could flourish.

In addition, seeing the various departments gave learners a first-hand insight into how the managed-cloud company do things – a perfect accompaniment to the informative talks and workshops Rackspace provided Computing students on a previous visit to Bucks UTC.

In the morning session, groups formed and in each, a Rackspace employee showed the students through the Rackspace office, highlighting the value of the unique Rackspace culture and how that culture drives their customer service focus. The students met and spoke with Rackers from Technical Support, Service Delivery, Marketing and Human Resources, gaining an insight into the work Rackspace does.

After lunch and in the Rackspace cafeteria, known as ‘The Hard Rack’, the students put to good use the games room ahead of a session on troubleshooting and diagnosing a ‘website down’ issue. Students were shown a website that could not be accessed due to a blocked port connection and working with a Racker from Technical Support, went about finding solutions to the problem. This enabled students to think about their approach when problem solving and also, when working in a team.

The later session regarded job applications, interviews and the importance of having a positive online presence. Guidance was given for creating a LinkedIn profile that would reflect one’s true personality, values and work style, in order to appeal to prospective employers. A focus point in the session was the importance of the ‘basics’ with excellent spelling and grammar being a critical aspect of any job application. Emphasised in the session was the acknowledgement that a majority of jobs within industries are sourced directly from social media channels, with Rackspace citing LinkedIn as one of the most important tools that it uses to recruit new Rackers to its Technical Support teams.

The day then wound down with a fun-filled ‘Rack Quiz’ with UTC students competing against ‘Rackers, which was all about ‘Rack facts & pop-youth culture’ – the student teams took the top three places with the team of Rackers coming in a humbling 4th.

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We are delighted to announce that an information session was held for Year 13 Computing students after work-placement opportunities. Successful applicants will be spending one day a week at Rackspace’s London HQ, alongside their studies, to prepare them with unique industry experience and skills. We are very grateful to Rackspace for these wonderful opportunities. More information will be provided in late February.

Rackspace offers a wide variety of specialised engineering skills to architect and manage not only the infrastructure, but also the many complex tools and applications that run on top of a Cloud, including the latest data engines and eCommerce platforms. They are the largest managed cloud provider, offering expertise across some of the biggest names to use cloud computing, including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Cloud/Azure.

Our Computing and Construction Programmes teach students about the diversity and complexity of the industry from the experts, ensuring learners leave with the knowledge and qualifications the industry really wants. Our courses provide insight and exposure to the careers available, thanks to our world-leading industry sponsors including Taylor Wimpey, Intel and Cisco. Plus we work with 30+ local and national companies, such as Rackspace UK, who help to provide work experience and placement opportunities, along with site visits and lectures.

Visit our Education+ page to learn more about the amazing things we do.