In recent years, the growing popularity of apprenticeships has opened up opportunities across industries including construction, media and technology.
The ‘Earn while you Learn’ approach offers attractive bene ts for applicants, particularly those wanting to venture into new career territory.
Traditionally, apprenticeships have taken the format of working whilst studying for a formal qualification or licence, meaning they are skilled and ready to join the workforce by the time the apprenticeship is complete.
However, increasingly organisations are turning to a new training academy style approach, bringing the learning ‘in-house’.
Belfast-based software firm Datactics is one of the latest tech firms to leverage this approach in its recruitment strategy, creating the Datactics Academy, to which new trainees have recently joined.
The initiative is designed to help recruits become a success in tech and data, whether they have a computer science background or not.
It begins with a two-week intense training course and lasts for 12 months. At the end of which each recruit will have gained a year’s experience in industry, alongside a professional certification and a guaranteed interview for a permanent position.
Instead of studying via college or university course, the Academy’s trainees learn through lived-in experience working at the organisation. With tailored training, participants can progress from limited (or no) previous experience to working as integral members of their teams in a matter of weeks or months.
For those looking at a career change or alternative route into the tech sector, training programmes are an ideal way to offer a supportive and flexible experience.
Sarah Greer, a participant in the Datactics Academy, came from an arts background before deciding to apply for the programme.
Now, she works day-to-day as a Data Consultant in a growing team of 60, soon to be working with international clients.
“I had spent a number of years travelling before deciding I wanted a complete career change. Ideally, I hoped for a programme which would facilitate hands-on learning, without having to enrol in a university course.
“Joining the Academy means I’m getting expo- sure to all aspects of the business and learning what it’s like to work on real-world data quality projects, with a group of trainees who have come from completely different backgrounds.”
Fellow Academy trainee Conal Begley worked as a chef in a popular Belfast restaurant before deciding to move into tech.
“I wanted a career change, but most job postings were looking for people with either years of technical experience or qualifications, sometimes both. I had neither, as I’m still currently studying with the Open University, so I looked for a training programme which would offer me the best of both worlds in terms of experience and learning. Discovering the Datactics Academy was the perfect opportunity to kick-start that move into a different career.”
To explore any of the open roles currently available at Datactics, please visit www.datactics.com/careers/ or email hr@datactics.com
