QA celebrates National Apprenticeship Week 2010 by creating more IT apprenticeship places
Government-funded training for 16-19* year olds provides valuable source of IT skills for employers.
How does a young person get that elusive first job in IT? School and college leavers could take a university degree - but that's a path not open to many bright, capable young people, simply because of the time and expense.
For over 18 months QA has been offering a real alternative: an IT apprenticeship, which takes people with almost no computer skills and, in less than a year, enables them to get an IT support job. According to Ben Pike, director of the programme, "We're not just training young people," says Pike, "we're properly and fully preparing them for work."
The programme is fully government-funded and uniquely provides learners with hands-on IT experience, academic qualifications and vendor accreditation.
Ashley Sylvester, who having completed the programme now works for a City trading firm, comments, "I really enjoyed my time on the programme. Every day I was learning something new and the programme really challenged me to think what area of IT I would like to pursue long term. I really enjoyed CompTIA Network+, the hands-on City & Guilds assignments, and the experience I gained was fantastic."
Pike continues, "Employers who take on graduates from the programme are unanimous in their praise, finding that the apprentices are contributing to the business very quickly." The low cost of employing these young people makes them attractive to organisations of all shapes and sizes. "We would love to see more employers engaging with this programme and reaping the benefits in their organisations of employing these enthusiastic, well trained young people," concludes Pike.
Additional Advanced IT Apprenticeship programmes in London, Slough and Reading will be starting in February and March 2010.
For more information please contact Affia Mumtaz 0207 490 7360.