Member Article

Technology solutions specialist unveils apprenticeship programme to plug skills gap

Solutionize Global has launched a graduate academy for budding leaders to tackle the tech skills shortage – with plans for the scheme to become the company’s go-to source of recruitment by 2022.

The technology solutions and services provider – which is set to more than double its turnover and eclipse £100 million this year – is providing both on-the-job learning from its Wakefield headquarters and home-based training, as part of its 12-18-month accredited programme.

The SG Academy – for both internal and external candidates – will not only teach recruits about the company’s values and culture, but also develop skills in roles including business leadership, sales and marketing, IT infrastructure and consultancy, and network engineering.

Sheffield-based Ascento, the academy’s training provider, will offer its online learning platform, bespoke courses to suit demand, and support when applying for government funding.

The apprenticeship scheme is the brainchild of Solutionize Global’s chief of staff, Kirsty Carter, who is working alongside talent acquisition colleagues Lydia Barrett and Sophia Cuthill – plus Ascento’s managing director Chris Ash – to recruit top tech talent.

Commenting on the new development, Kirsty said: “Graduates have had an incredibly tough time during the current climate, and many have finished their courses without knowing where to turn next.

“It’s vital that we nurture those skills and provide them with an opportunity to not only flourish and excel but also to bolster our economy. The tech sector is evolving rapidly and we’re keen to attract talent – that might not have previously considered a career in our industry – to become leaders of the future.

“We have an amazing senior leadership team – with outstanding knowledge and experience – that is committed to supporting this vision by mentoring this next generation to be successful.”

Speaking about the internal candidates, she added: “Solutionize Global has soared exponentially over the past few years and we’ve got a fantastic bunch of extremely ambitious and creative individuals who are perfect for this scheme.

“We want to keep developing specialists from within and continue to build a solid foundation where our employees and company can grow together. I’m confident that if we continue to share our mission, hire in line with our culture and values and invest in our existing team, we’ll retain the best tech talent.”

Having officially launched this month, the SG Academy has been working with regional universities and attending virtual education fairs to recruit the first new members of the SG Academy. Three existing employees have also been identified for the programme.

Chris Ash, managing director at Ascento, added: “Kirsty and the senior leadership team at Solutionize Global clearly values employee growth and development. We’re excited to be able to contribute to the academy’s evolution and help to recruit, build and retain high-quality talent.”

The ambition for the future of the SG Academy is to hire based on the recruitment needs in 12-18 months’ time.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .