As a report published this week on the Creative, Digital and IT industries recommended that government needs to do more to support start-ups in the sector, e-skills UK looks at how apprenticeships are proving an ideal way for new companies to grow their business and develop their workforce.
A team of IT apprentices with a start-up software development firm in Cambridgeshire are showing that, despite their relative youth, they are already delivering real business value to the firm, while gaining an impressive portfolio of skills at the same time.
e-skills UK has been working closely with ScrumIT, the company running the apprenticeship scheme, to pioneer this innovative and cost effective approach to developing IT professionals. Mel Pullen, former Chief Systems Architect for Nokia’s Symbian Foundation and now Director of ScrumIT, only took on his apprentices in February of this year. Yet already he has them creating social media-enabled mobile applications using newly-acquired skills that many would consider require several years of industry experience.
“Chasing dreams by solving software nightmares” is the motto of the seven-strong team of apprentice programmers, with an average age of just nineteen. In only their first week, they built a mobile phone application and went on to add Bluetooth capability to existing apps. Mel is clear that it was really important the apprentices could create something as a team early on in their apprenticeship to give them a sense of achievement and unity. Six months in, they continue to work closely together to produce a variety of iPhone and Android apps that appeal directly to mobile users of their own age.
Mel says of his team of apprentices: “They’re learning about programming and they’re learning to work in a team. It’ll take another month or so and then they will know all they need to call themselves programmers. After that it’s all about finding challenging projects to give them experience.”
It is inspiring to think that these cutting edge technology skills are being put into the hands of a group of 18 and 19 year olds. Mel is certain that his team of budding IT professionals will soon become confident and experienced craftsmen by learning through practical experience. As a result, he hopes they will stay with the company after they have finished their training to form a skilled, loyal workforce. “Apprentices are an ideal workforce for start-up businesses. They’re adaptable, so grow with the company, they are incredibly loyal, and in the crucial early stages of a start-up they represent an excellent return on investment.”
e-skills UK works with employers like ScrumIT to design IT & Telecoms Apprenticeship programmes to meet the industry’s skills needs. ScrumIT’s success to date has played a key part in shaping the new IT Developer & Programmer Apprenticeship which e-skills UK is launching early next year.
Ben Sweetman, Head of Apprenticeships at e-skills UK, says: “Apprenticeships provide an excellent alternative to university study for school leavers wanting to get into a career in IT. ScrumIT is a great example of how apprentices can make a valuable contribution to a business, and the success of this programme has encouraged us to provide a new model for other employers looking to take on apprentices in programming and development. e-skills UK is working closely with large and small companies in anticipation of launching the Developer Apprenticeship in the first quarter of 2011.”
More information on apprenticeships