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Young People Today –
Learning Adabas and Natural
Through Advanced IT Apprentices
Where is the new talent coming from in your organisation? How will you grow the next generation of junior developers? Strategic Systems Solutions (SSS) in partnership with Software AG and other industry bodies have developed a ground breaking and award winning Advanced IT Apprenticeship. Read on to find out more…
| What is the Programme?
To meet the requirement for quality resources with the right technical skills SSS launched a two year IT apprenticeship programme in autumn 2008 with a class of 20. The objective was to create a pool of 21st century junior mainframe developers with a specific focus on the Software AG toolset. A six month, hands on, ‘boot camp’ kicked off the programme covering basic technical skills such as ADABAS, Natural, TSO and JCL. This was complemented by training on the IT life cycle, business knowledge and professional skills. The apprentices also attend Leeds City College one day / week to complete more general IT training required for their BTEC certificate. Their performance in the business is externally assessed on a regular basis to progress the second part of their qualification, the BTEC Diploma. The programme also includes industry standard qualifications; in particular the Mainframe Technical Professional certification sponsored by BCS and IBM. | In a Nutshell:
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SSS has worked with closely with their clients and Software AG to include and develop the skills required now and for the future. The latest Natural development tools are included in the training and the plan is to extend the programme to include the webMethods tools to support Service Orientated Architecture (SOA) and re-engineering projects.
An added bonus of the programme is the flexibility to modify the training to meet specific client needs. This is not just the core products but also specific and bespoke tools and utilities, in-house methodologies, processes, and business knowledge.
What about the Apprentices?
Sarah, now aged 20, shares her story:
What attracted you to IT and the Apprenticeship Programme in particular?
“After studying IT at GCSE and A-Level I realized it was a subject I was interested in. There has never been a particular career path I wished to follow but what I did know was I didn’t want to go to university as that could have been a waste of time and money for me. This led me wanting to ‘earn whilst I learn’. I spoke with my careers officer about this and she was the one who informed me about the SSS apprenticeship. I then applied for it as it was a great opportunity for me and here I am”.
Has it lived up to expectations?
“I didn’t really know what to expect from the apprenticeship, but I hoped it would be beneficial from both the working environment aspect and the learning side. The SSS apprenticeship programme has given me a balanced mixture of training and client work; I am even gaining further IT and investment banking qualifications such as the BCS Mainframe Technical certification and Introduction to Securities and Investments. When I began the apprenticeship I had to get to know lots of new people, over the time here I have made a whole new bunch of friends and I felt welcomed (into a group of 19 other male apprentices) from day one.”
What has been your biggest challenge?
“Definitely starting client work; this was challenging as it meant I would be working alongside people in other offices, so they weren’t even familiar faces. Client work also introduced me to a new mainframe environment and to juggling lots of information at once. Not only do I get to code programs now but I also deal with the analysis, design, testing and implementation within a project.”
As a young person with no prior IT experience how have you got on with Adabas / Natural?
“Even with the IT qualifications I have previously acquired I have never learnt anything to do with programming. At first ADABAS / Natural seemed quite complicated, but now I have gained the knowledge, I have a greater understanding of this programming language and I am doing some quite detailed work.”
What next?
“Well I would like to stay working at Strategic Systems Solutions for further work experience and to get a wider array of skills in order to work my way up the development ladder. I am happy working here with my colleagues and I feel comfortable in this company, which I am sure would continue into the future.”
How much does it Cost?
The good news is that Government funding contributes towards the training costs and numerous educational discounts help reduce the overall expenditure. The apprentices are paid a competitive salary but that is offset by the work and value they can add to the business, even during the training period. With appropriate planning the programme can be delivered on a cost neutral basis with the real value to come once the apprentices are fully qualified.
Unquantifiable is the good news the programme has generated. SSS has won two awards including being short listed in the prestigious BCS Computing Annual Awards 2009; the ‘UK IT Oscars’. New partnerships and business opportunities have been developed. By opening up IT recruitment to a new audience it is also proving a big tick in the box for social responsibility.
What Next?
The initial programme will finish in Summer 2010. Their education is continuing at college and within SSS. Feedback from the industry, internally, and most importantly from the client has been very positive. The programme is proving a success and SSS intend to repeat it.
Making the Business Case!
| With Software AG and other partners, SSS are keen to offer a new flexible service to consult, manage and deliver IT apprenticeship programmes. This could be a pooled programme for smaller organisations or bespoke for larger groups. SSS are also convinced that the model can be extended to other IT platforms and disciplines. We want others to share our experience and success and develop the talent you need for the future. As Owen Weeks CEO at SSS explains, ‘It’s simple, an IT apprenticeship programme is good for your business, good for the apprentices and good for UK IT. Done correctly the programme can be delivered for ‘free’ and provide real value to your organisation for many years to come!’As Owen Weeks CEO at SSS explains, ‘It’s simple, an IT apprenticeship programme is good for your business, good for the apprentices and good for UK IT. Done correctly the programme can be delivered for ‘free’ and provide real value to your organisation for many years to come!’ |
Please contact Charlie Cotterill of Software AG at: charlie.cotterill@softwareag.co.uk for further details.
