UKFast has revealed details of its extended apprenticeship programme as it looks to take advantage of the UK's digital skills talent pool.
The company wants to add an additional 100 apprentices to its business over the next 12 months, on top of the existing 60 young rising stars already working at the firm.
UKFast's apprenticeship programme covers roles in IT, software development, maintenance, customer service, events and facilities management and lasts for two years before the candidates are offered a role at the company. In its four-year history, the programme has a 100% employment rate, with apprentices rising through the ranks to become permanent fixtures at the organisation.
During their time as an apprentice, UKFast's trainees earn 16,000 a year while learning the vital skills needed to become an integral part of the business.
"What we're seeing in our apprenticeships is that the candidates maintain the momentum they have after leaving school," said UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones.
"This gives them a massive opportunity to hit the ground running and to be in a significantly better financial position than they would have been if they'd gone to university. 100,000 better off after three years in some cases!"
UKFast treats its apprentices slightly differently to other firms offering schemes. For example, its apprentices undertake their induction in Snowdonia, where they will take part in a number of team building exercises such as raft building and climbing Mount Snowdon.
"We see apprentices developing at UKFast at an amazing rate and they're now truly invaluable to our workforce," Jones added. "It's a great partnership too, as they learn on the job whilst helping us deliver the skills needed across the entire tech industry. It's also an amazing opportunity to get into a sector that's offering the strongest wage growth across the board."
