This May marks the second anniversary of our Early Careers Programme, an initiative that’s already delivering tangible benefits for our customers – but making an even bigger impact on those looking to kick start a career in IT and technology.
So far, we’ve seen 40 people move through the programme, with Tech Associates from our first cohort having officially graduated to join the Advania team full-time, leading client engagements and bringing unique perspectives to our approach.
Career opportunities built around candidate capabilities
We designed the Early Careers Programme to nurture talent and provide a more accessible path to a career in IT and technology for people from all walks of life – everyone from graduates to school leavers, and even those who are seeking to shift away their existing employment path.
From the start we’ve focused on recruiting based on capabilities, not credentials. We look for applicants with the qualities to succeed in different roles – be those communications skills, problem solving instincts or technical knowledge.
Each successful applicant is matched to one of our consulting teams, identifying where their talents will fit best, and a role where they’ll have the best opportunities to develop. From there, candidates receive focused training and are supported in seeking certifications from Microsoft and other vendors to grow their skills. Following this intense education over the first three months, they’re ready to start putting those skills into action. Tech Associates shadow Advania personnel in their day-to-day work, getting real-world experience in client engagements and continuing their development through mentorship and training.
The full programme takes place over 20 months, taking candidates from new starters to fully qualified Advania consultants, leading engagements and building personal relationships with our customers.
To date the programme has a voluntary attrition rate of only 7% – a reflection of the value offered to candidates throughout the cycle, and testament to our efforts to match candidates to their ideal roles and nurture their skills to help them succeed.
Making diversity happen
Our Early Careers Programme goes beyond just nurturing talent – it provides opportunities and career pathways to those who have historically faced institutional barriers when pursuing roles in IT and technology.
A key driving force behind the inception of the programme is an overarching belief that diversity doesn’t just happen. Ensuring equal opportunities is a core focus, and the diverse nature of our existing cohorts is a reflection of our dedication to truly recognising those from all backgrounds.
Across the three cohorts enrolled in the programme so far, 54% of candidates are female, a stark contrast to the 26% average across the UK IT and technology sector as a whole. It’s a record we’re incredibly proud of and is just one of the ways we support women in technology and help build lasting gender equality within the industry.
The UK programme also doesn’t have a degree requirement – an intentional decision intended to open the doors to more applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, and ensure candidates without higher education qualifications are afforded an opportunity to earn a platform to develop based on their skills and talent. The doors are open to applicants of all ages, including those who have already built a career in one field, but are hoping to transition to tech. Candidates with previous working experience in other fields bring unique insights from their past lives which broaden the thinking and capabilities of our teams.
The success of the UK programme has also informed a parallel version in South Africa, where candidates join our Cape Town office. While the entry requirements differ, the same principle applies – opening routes into technology careers and supporting long-term opportunity in the sector. While regional differences mean application requirements are different, leaning more towards graduates, the South African programme has been built to adhere to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy, addressing social and economic inequality to create South African cohorts that truly mirror the demographics of the Western Cape.
Our plans for the future
Earlier this year, we onboarded our third cohort to the programme – our largest intake including 18 associates. After a successful start to life, our Early Careers Programme is already delivering a positive return for Advania through contributions to billed customer projects, and as that impact grows, we’re looking to reinvest that value into growing the programme event further.
If you’d like to know more about how our Early Careers Programme, and how the diverse perspectives it enables brings more value to our customers, get in touch with our team today. And, if you’re interested in applying, follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to hear when we’re welcoming applications for our next cohort.
