Capgemini’s recruitment drive moves into top gear

LONDON –- Capgemini UK is seeking to recruit 100 new apprentices in the Birmingham and the West Midlands region this year as part of a significant increase in its commitment to its national apprenticeship programmes. Capgemini is one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, and last year hired 44 new apprentices in Birmingham.

Capgemini employs some 8,000 people in the UK where its clients range from HM Revenue & Customs and the Metropolitan Police to Rolls-Royce, Tesco and Unilever.

The expanded scope of this year’s recruitment plan reflects the success of the 2012 intake, and the increasing interest among young people in apprenticeships as an alternative to university. Those joining Capgemini’s Higher Apprentice Programme have an opportunity to progress onward to gain a funded BSc (Hons) degree in Computing and IT Practice, with all tuition fees paid.

Capgemini is seeking people in the Midlands area who are interested in a career in IT with an expanding global company and keen to gain leading edge IT skills and structured personal development. The company offers an 18-month Advanced Apprenticeship programme for those aged 16-plus with good GCSEs or equivalent, and a five-year Higher Apprenticeship/Sponsored Degree programme for people aged 18-plus with two A-levels or equivalent. Both programmes include a 12-week accelerated learning residential course at the Capgemini National Apprentice Training Centre, followed by on-the-job training working alongside experienced employees on client projects.

Brian Sinclair, Head of Fresher Recruitment at Capgemini UK, said: “We are looking to recruit people with a passion for IT who have ambitions of becoming top IT professionals. We can help them achieve their ambitions through an industry-leading learning experience. Last year’s apprentice intake have been a huge success with our clients and our managers, and this year we want more of the obviously hardworking students from Britain’s industrial heartland for roles based in the West Midlands, an area of strategic importance to Capgemini.”

Capgemini offers permanent roles to all apprentices and pays competitive starting salaries, currently £10,000 pa for the first three months during which they are on the fast-track residential course. On successful completion of this course the salary package then rises, on current figures, to £14,500 pa for Advanced Apprentices and £16,000 pa for Higher Apprentices. Recruits will be based at Capgemini locations in Aston, Birmingham and Telford, Shropshire.

Capgemini develops its apprenticeship programmes in conjunction with e-skills UK (the Sector Skills Council for Business and IT), the British Computer Society and Business in the Community. Recruitment will be effected in liaison with the UK’s National Apprenticeship Scheme using QA Apprenticeships as its national training provider.