A new data and AI graduate programme aims to offer Welsh businesses some pandemic resilience.
Firms that use big data and artificial intelligence are being offered the opportunity to join a new graduate programme, which looks to fast-track “talent” into their teams.
The Fast-Track Data and AI Graduate Programme has already attracted some of Wales’ most recognisable brands, including Admiral, Confused.com and Principality Building Society. However, the Programme has been created to provide opportunities for Welsh businesses of all sizes seeking to build teams to accelerate digital transformation and data driven services.
Graduates placed through the Programme are already helping businesses in multiple industries to harness the power of data. In the world of finance, graduates have employed the latest techniques to source data from multiple sources to change how property values are calculated and create new mortgage products. However, the reality is that these skills and methods can be applied to many sectors.
Managed by the Welsh Contact Centre Forum and part-funded by the European Social Fund, the eight-month Programme matches graduates with the specific needs of each participating employer.
The Programme also ensures its graduates stay at the forefront of developments in AI, big data and robotics, via a bespoke post-graduate diploma delivered by the University of South Wales.
Sandra Busby, Managing Director of the Welsh Contact Centre Forum, said: “The new Fast-Track Programme is designed to provide Welsh businesses with what is needed right now to address today’s recruitment and training challenges.
“I encourage all employers to contact our team and explore how we can work together. There is no one-size fits all solution, so we have created a flexible programme that can adapt to the differing needs of Welsh businesses, from start-ups to national brands”.
Some of the biggest brands in Wales have been among the first to join the Fast-Track Data and AI Graduate Programme, including leading insurance comparison site, Confused.com.
Commenting on the insurance expert’s longstanding partnership with the Programme, Nick Sharp, head of data, analytics & data science at Confused.com, said: “We are proud to be a partner in this programme and have been impressed by the high quality of candidates, so much so, that we have already employed two graduates from the previous data science programme”.
The Fast-Track Data and AI Graduate Programme is an evolution of the Financial Services and Data Science Graduate Programme model.
Those programmes were initially created in 2013 to support the recovery and growth of Welsh businesses following the 2008 financial crisis and their success has created a 144 strong graduate talent pool that has seen 98% secure permanent roles with Wales’ leading companies.
Deputy Minister for Economy, Lee Waters said: “The coronavirus pandemic has placed incredible pressures on our economy, but as a Welsh Government we are absolutely committed to supporting our firms and helping retain and develop talent here in Wales which is vital for future economic growth and greater prosperity.
“The Fast-Track Data and AI Graduate Programme will have a crucial part to play by providing new and exciting opportunities for businesses and individuals who have so much to offer. The tech sector is thriving in Wales and we want to see that continue.
“I am pleased the Welsh Government is supporting this scheme and it also demonstrates the important role EU funding plays in supporting our businesses and helping people reach their potential.”
