For those looking to jumpstart their career in tech, a degree-level apprenticeship offers a shortcut to success. Rather than pursuing university studies first, apprentices dive in at the deep end and work with clients on real-world problems from day one. They also study the academic side one day a week at college, earning a bachelor of science (BSc), but with plenty of practical experience.
Software analyst Shajida Akthar completed her three-year apprenticeship degree at consultancy Accenture in 2017, graduating with a BSc in digital and technology solutions and becoming a software engineer.
“My highlight as an apprentice was project managing five other apprentices and three contractors delivering a huge e-commerce platform,” she says. “I watched that go live, I oversaw the delegation of tasks, reporting to stakeholders and sending out reports. I had all the responsibilities of being a project manager at a young age.”
Akthar joined the Accenture apprenticeship programme following A-levels in computing, electronics, mathematics and photography. She took a four-week work experience programme at the company, organised through Movement to Work – a charity backed by Accenture and other employers that helps young people into employment.
“Coming out of college, I wasn’t the most confident person, I was really reserved, so it got me out of my shell, it helped with interview skills, CV writing, Java programming, user experience design, all jam packed into the four weeks. It was super exciting,” she says.
Today, she works with Accenture’s clients in an area known as DevOps, using automation to speed up the development of software. “The demand is really high for DevOps engineers,” she says. “Every time you finish on a project, someone is trying to snap you up straight away to go on to another.”
Accenture launched its apprenticeship programme in 2013, with the aim of expanding its pool of talent beyond direct from university graduates. Initially launched in Newcastle, the scheme has expanded to Manchester, Warwick, Edinburgh and London, and takes on approximately 80 new apprentices each year. Those with A-levels start at Level 4 and take a three-year course, while those without A-levels do a one-year foundation as well.
Accenture puts great emphasis on bringing on board candidates from diverse backgrounds and is proud of its close-to 50/50 gender split among its apprentices. There is high representation from ethnic minorities and the programme aligns with Accenture’s goal of promoting social mobility within its workforce. The scheme is open to people in their 20s who wish to make a career change, as well as recent school leavers.
Even those who never imagined themselves working in technology have found success on the programme. Rob O’Connor is six months away from graduating with a BSc on the scheme. He specialises in creating apps for voice assistant Amazon Alexa and plans a career as an artificial intelligence programmer.
This is quite a turnaround for O’Connor. Four years ago, he quit a job in retail without knowing what would come next. Like his friends, he’d played his share of video games but never thought of himself as a computer whizz kid.
He became aware of an opportunity for a three-week work placement at Accenture, organised by Movement to Work. There, he discovered a passion for technology and managed to secure a place on the company’s degree-level apprenticeship in digital and technology solutions. He studies one day a week with a training provider and works with several of the company’s clients.
“There is no average day – Accenture is such a massive company, what you do varies from role to role,” he says. He works on a variety of software development projects. One project involves using Amazon Alexa to help make life easier for elderly people. His lack of a background in science and maths has not held him back, he says. “I’m not that good at maths but I’ve become a good software engineer. You need to really enjoy problem solving and to be passionate. Developing software can be frustrating if things don’t work out, so you have to learn and persevere.”
O’Connor believes a degree apprenticeship is one good way to jumpstart a career in technology. “If you want to be successful, I would recommend an apprenticeship – which combines working instead of only doing the theoretical stuff at university.”
Accenture launched the apprenticeship scheme in recognition of the fast-changing nature of the technology industry, says Damian Corneal, a managing director in the technology business who is also the executive sponsor of the apprenticeship programme.
To meet the demand, the company realised it would need to draw on a wide pool of talent. “We look at qualifications, but we are actually more interested in the candidate’s potential,” he says. “We are looking for individuals who are eager to learn, and are curious and dynamic. People who are prepared to continuously reskill and reinvent themselves when they need to.”
To find out more, or to apply for a degree apprenticeship with Accenture, head to Accenture.com/ukapprentices
