QA Apprenticeships says 85 per cent of its schemes lead to full-time employment

Of the 500 IT apprenticeship schemes being run by QA Apprenticeships every six months, 85 per cent lead to full-time employment, according to director Ben Pike.

Microsoft is helping to tailor the QA courses to ensure they meet industry needs, according to Microsoft's head of skills and economic affairs, Stephen Uden.

Speaking to Computing, Uden explained that these courses have moved from straight engineering to software development, and now include new subjects such as cloud computing.

Future developments of IT apprenticeships were the main focus of the QA Apprenticeships' Microsoft Developer Day, held last Monday.

The event was a collaboration between Microsoft, technology services firm Capgemini and apprenticeship provider QA Apprenticeships.

Following the event, Uden said other developments could include a new higher-level software developer apprenticeship and the incorporation of Microsoft's Dynamics business software into existing courses.

He also said a 12-month software developer scheme, designed by Microsoft and provided by QA Apprenticeships, would provide Microsoft's IT services partners with a third of their new recruits.

Pike said the apprenticeships do a better job of plugging the IT skills gap than many graduate schemes as they offer classroom training to supplement the skills learned on the job.

QA currently offers a software and web developer programme, as well as a hardware and networking programme. Both courses are available to students who wish to pursue a career in IT after their GCSEs.

Pike said an updated QA scheme will go live early in 2012 and may include the cloud computing element already mentioned. He emphasised that current apprenticeships aren't fixed and that QA can tailor its schemes to fit the needs of any company.

"For example, if Microsoft wants a role for an IT services partner, it will speak to the partner then report back to QA on what the partner needs. QA then tailors its apprenticeship scheme accordingly," he said.

Pike also added that to retain the 85 per cent success rate, organisations have to keep providing new training opportunities.

"Hopefully, apprentices will be taken on board by organisations, but to retain them these companies need to provide ongoing development to retain the interest of their staff," he said.