QA Apprenticeships, one of the UK’s biggest supporters of IT apprenticeships, has pledged to create 5,000 more technology-based training positions within the next 12 months to help combat the country’s digital skills shortage.
10,000 IT apprenticeships by 2016
The firm’s 10KinTech initiative aims to place 10,000 apprentices into IT roles by summer 2016. In the past five years, over 5,000 young people have found permanent work through QA. The company has now pledged to help another 5,000 people in under 12 months.
QA’s programme has already galvanised support of heavyweights such as British Gas, EE, HP, and Microsoft. In total, the firm has placed 7,500 apprentices in over 2,700 UK IT and technology companies.
‘‘This is great news for, not only QA Apprenticeships, but also the entire UK technology sector,’’ stated Jacqui Lloyd, early in career programme manager for Microsoft.
‘‘We congratulate QA on this brilliant achievement, and Microsoft look forward to welcoming more QA apprentices into the business this year as part of our commitment to 10KinTech.’’
Successful candidates range from GCSE-level right through to through to MSc.
‘Huge demand for young people’
The 10KinTech initiative supports the Government’s plan to create 3 million apprenticeships across the UK by 2020.
Maggie Philbin, a well-known TV and radio presenter and CEO of TeenTech CIC, has welcomed QA’s pledge to create more apprenticeships.
‘‘It’s really encouraging to see what QA is achieving through 10KinTech. We all know there is a huge demand for young people with the right skills for contemporary industry, but not enough parents and teachers realise that a high quality IT apprenticeship is an extremely valuable career route.’’
‘‘I’ve been so impressed by the quality of apprentices I’ve met: confident, articulate young people who are enthusiastic, highly committed and excited about their prospects. They have a significant advantage not only in developing technical skills but also being in the right place to make the most of the opportunities emerging in the industry.’’
