Capgemini showcases its award winning apprentice development programme and offers tips for those starting out.

Capgemini won an ISE Award for its apprentice development programme, which it started in 2011 in response to the demand for technical graduates becoming increasingly competitive.

It recognised the need to have a different approach to entry-level recruitment and no longer be limited to just recruiting graduates. It also wanted to achieve better gender balance while increasing social mobility.

Capgemini created attractive apprenticeship opportunities for people who had the potential to grow and who were looking for an alternative to a full-time university degree or higher education.

The apprenticeship combined distance, classroom and blended learning with on-the-job experience to develop the skills required to launch a career in the digital sector.

In 2015 they were one of the first employers to launch a Digital Degree Apprenticeship, which was developed with Aston University. Capgemini has since continued to diversify the range of apprenticeships and uses them to close skills gaps and develop its talent of the future.

In 2017 Capgemini became the first UK employer in the technology industry to deliver degree apprentices. 163 apprentices have since graduated from the programme with 88% achieving a 2:1 or above and 40% achieving a first. This clearly demonstrates that the combination of academic study and applied learning in a supportive workplace can produce great results, while adding real value to an organisation and society as a whole.

Since the launch of the apprenticeship levy, many of Capgemini’s clients have been interested in collaborating. For example, Anglian Water created a degree apprenticeship programme with Capgemini’s support. Today degree apprentices from Capgemini and Anglian Water are working and studying together on projects that will benefit both sectors.

The volume of apprentices continues to rise at Capgemini with more than 90 joining in 2021 across a range of programmes. Apprenticeships have helped Capgemini increase the volume of entry-level offers to females – from 27% in 2015 to over 50% in 2020.

As well as creating their own industry-leading technologists and closing the skills gap, apprenticeships are enabling Capgemini to open up new digital career opportunities for talented people who otherwise may not have had the chance.

Today, Capgemini runs 20 apprenticeship standards across England, Scotland and Wales, throughout levels 3 to 7, and has continuing plans for expansion and development of their existing programmes.

5 tips for employers considering starting an apprenticeship

1. Understand why you are investing in apprenticeships and have a clear, leadership-backed strategy to support your plans.
2. Take time to understand the training providers available for the programmes you want to run and be clear on your expectations of them in terms of flexibility, bespoking and creativity.
3. Invest in a strong support structure internally – a passionate team to guide the apprentices throughout their experience and managers who nurture and are committed to developing talent.
4. Have a clear pay and progression model to fast track high potential employees so that you continue to keep pace with their career expectations and the external market to manage retention.
5. Celebrate apprentice successes throughout the programme – not just at its conclusion.

This is an excerpt from the ISE Complete Guide to Student Recruitment and Development

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