Case study by Capgemini
In 2011 Capgemini took action to address the impact the digital skills gap was having on the business by investing in their talent strategy at a junior level and reviewing the opportunities available for those looking for an alternative to university.
A global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation, Capgemini is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients’ opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms. The creation of a market-leading apprenticeship programme, to grow the firm’s technologists of the future, includes a higher apprenticeship programme with the option to step straight on to a sponsored degree following its completion. To deliver this, Capgemini partnered with Aston University in 2012, working together with government to create the very first Degree Apprenticeship in Digital and Technology Solutions.
Seven years on from the first action taken, Capgemini has invested considerably in this area with 300 apprentices currently on the programme, of which 279 are enrolled in a degree apprenticeship and will qualify with a degree and a suite of employable skills.
In 2017 Capgemini met a significant milestone, as the cohort became the country’s first degree apprentices to graduate with a degree in Digital & Technology Solutions. The results achieved were outstanding; 100% passed with a 2nd class degree or above, and 64% achieved a 1st class degree, which is more than double the Aston-on-campus average. Capgemini also crossed a gender milestone with 3 of their women becoming the first female degree apprentices to complete their degree in October, achieving 2:1’s and 1st class results.
“The skills that I acquired during my degree apprenticeship have allowed me to provide profound support to clients and provided me with the opportunity to take on more challenging roles with higher levels of responsibility, including managing a team.”
Amy Grange, one of the latest cohort to complete, shares her experience of being an apprentice and the opportunities it provided:
“Capgemini has enabled me to grow from both a personal and professional perspective by providing fantastic support with my career progression. Working as an Oracle Applications Consultant I received 5 promotions in 5 years, having achieved a first class honours degree in Digital & Technology Solutions from Aston University. The skills that I acquired during my degree apprenticeship have allowed me to provide profound support to clients and provided me with the opportunity to take on more challenging roles with higher levels of responsibility, including managing a team.”
With the exceptional results achieved, the graduates from Capgemini’s degree apprenticeship programme have demonstrated the success that the blend of academic and workplace learning can have and also challenge the view that degree apprenticeships are a second class option to pure university routes.
As a result of the investment in the degree apprenticeship programmes, Capgemini is seeing high performing and skilled junior talent who are actively engaged with customers from early on in their career. In turn, Aston has seen excellent academic results coming from the course and recognises the value of blending academic and on the job / practical experience in achieving outstanding results. Based on the successes achieved and the ongoing digital skills gap, Capgemini is committed to continue their investment in apprenticeships with a further 90 starts planned for 2018.
Published: 7 September 2018
This article first appeared in the 2018 State of the Relationship report, commissioned by Research England and compiled and published by NCUB.
Capgemini
Share this article
