US firm SAS to create 94 jobs in Scotland

A US-based business analytics and software services provider is to expand it's operations in Scotland, creative nearly 100 jobs over 4 years.

SAS said it would open a new advanced analytics laboratory and expand its existing public security research and development unit in East Kilbride.

The move will lead to 94 new jobs and safeguard a further 126 Scottish jobs.

The announcement came during a trade visit to the US by First Minister Alex Salmond.

It followed news earlier this week that US-based medical products company Daktari Diagnostics is to locate its manufacturing base to Inverness, creating up to 126 posts.

The first minister met senior SAS representatives in New York as part of a programme of business and trade meetings designed to boost investment and employment in Scotland...READ MORE

Cisco to Launch IT skills apprenticeship scheme

COMPUTING giant Cisco is preparing to launch an apprenticeship scheme for hundreds of budding network technicians after a new report highlighted rising demand in the IT sector.

Ian Foddering, chief technology officer at Cisco UK, told The Scotsman that he will recruit “a couple of hundred” apprentices for the scheme, which will be launched later this month.

Under the programme – which comes on top of Cisco’s existing internal apprenticeship scheme, which has 18 participants – trainees will receive Cisco network associate accreditation, which Foddering said would help them to find IT jobs. READ MORE

QA Apprenticeships at Atos

International technology company Atos have developed an apprenticeship programme with a huge amount of benefits. There are numerous vacancies available, with start dates from June - September 2013.

Atos Origin is an international information technology services company. Its business is turning client vision into results through the application of consulting, systems integration and managed operations. The company’s annual revenues are EUR 5.8 billion and it employs 50,000 people in 40 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international blue-chip companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.

Apprenticeships are increasingly recognised as the gold standard for work-based training. Atos apprenticeships offer an opportunity ideal for AS/A Level leavers looking to build a career in the IT industry, as n alternative to taking the more traditional university route. They offer a range of apprenticeship programmes including software development, application support and business administration. The successful candidates will work within a team, during and after training. All recruits would be able to enjoy Atos benefits.

Atos are running numerous apprenticeships:
- The Atos Advanced IT Hardware, IT Software, Business and Administration schemes are 1 year in length leading to various relevant qualifications in the respective areas
- The Atos ICT Higher Level Apprenticeship Scheme takes 2 years to complete leading to a HNC
- The Atos Project Management Higher Level Apprenticeship takes 2 years and leads to level 4 Diploma in Project Management

Other Atos Apprenticeship Schemes are constantly being developed such as mainframe, networking, software testing. All the apprenticeship schemes will include other functional and business skills. Further education options will then be considered after successful completion of the various programmes.

For further information on Atos Apprenticeships, CLICK HERE

QA leads on Microsoft's 2016 apprenticeships for 2016 initiative

QA Apprentice meets First Minister Alex Salmond as Microsoft pledges to create over 2000 IT jobs in Scotland.

Microsoft launched their 2016 for 2016 initiative with the help of First Minister Alex Salmond and QA Apprentice Jamie Hill, generating widespread coverage including from the BBC and The Herald.

The pledge, to create 2016 IT Modern apprenticeships in three years, will double Microsoft’s apprentice intake in Scotland. It is part of the technology giant’s ‘Get On’ initiative to get 300,000 young people into work over the next three years.

QA Apprenticeships, as Scotland’s leading IT apprenticeships provider, will have a leading role in the initiative; creating, filling and providing training for as many of the new job roles as possible, working with Microsoft’s partner network.

Alex Salmond MP lauded the initiative at First Minister’s Question Time as “a terrific announcement, both for the thousands of individual young people who will be given a fantastic career opportunity and for Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship programme.

“Recruiting 2016 apprentices by 2016 represents a huge endorsement of Scotland’s young people from a company with operations in dozens of countries.”

Jonathan Warner, Head of QA Apprenticeships in Scotland said:

“We are delighted with the news that Microsoft is expanding its apprenticeships in Scotland, and with the high-profile endorsement of the First Minister. As the lead provider on the initiative QA is pleased to have been backed both by Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance and Michel Van der Bel, Microsoft's UK Managing Director in the promotion around the initiative.

"QA Apprenticeships will be dedicated to training as many young people as possible and surpassing Microsoft's 2016 target.”

Jamie Hill, who has already benefitted from the QA Apprenticeship scheme, said:

"Now I've finished my apprenticeship, I've been kept on and am actually helping instruct new starters at Capito. They've trained me up in every way I could imagine and I've been able to move out of my parent's house."

For more on the story visit the BBC, the Scottish Government website and the Herald Scotland.

Fantastic IT Opportunities with Sky in Livingston

Sky are now looking to increase their workforce by bringing on more new Apprentices than ever. This is your chance to be a part of one of Sky's exciting Apprenticeship programmes. If you're bright and ambitious, there's never been a better time to join Sky.

This is an exciting way to gain valuable work experience, leading to a professional qualification (Diploma in ICT Professional Competence) and take your passion for broadcast and technology to the next level. Broadcast Services supports the 'On Demand' platform and the development of their electronic programming guide - this apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to rotate through the applications they support and experience the business areas they service. You'll also have the chance to use some of your other IT skills by working on some software development.

As well as fantastic training and development, you'll receive a competitive salary and amazing benefits. These include free Sky+ HD TV with top tier viewing package, free Sky Broadband and discounted telephone, generous holiday entitlements, and lots of other important stuff like pension scheme, life insurance and health care.

For further information on these apprenticeships and working for Sky, CLICK HERE

Bright Purple Lands Top Apprenticeship Award

IT and Financial Services Recruitment specialists Bright Purple Resourcing has been recognised for its commitment in helping develop young talent, winning top honours at this year’s Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards. The firm won the Small Business category, winning plaudits for its ‘significant contribution/commitment to the Modern Apprenticeship programme’.

The award followed the firm’s launch in January of its inaugural Bright Futures Programme, an initiative designed to give six long-term unemployed apprentices hands-on work experience and personal development to build self-esteem and release their full potential. READ MORE

Firm Handed Glasgow 2014 IT Role

 

A Scottish IT firm has been announced as the technology services integrator for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Organisers said NVT Group, which is based in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, will create up to 15 modern apprenticeships to help the company fulfil its role.

The firm currently employs 75 people and will be responsible for the planning, design, implementation, testing and operation of the technology infrastructure required to ensure key elements of the Games are carried out successfully. READ MORE

Atos Picks up Top Industry Apprentice Scheme Award

International IT services company Atos has won a top industry award for its modern apprenticeship scheme. The company picked up the “Best Business Newcomer” accolade at the 2012 Modern Apprenticeship Awards, organised by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), at Glasgow’s Science Centre on Wednesday November 21.

The awards showcase businesses that have demonstrated initiative, enterprise and outstanding commitment to the improvement of skills development within the Scottish economy, through their involvement in modern apprenticeships.

The Atos Apprenticeship Scheme provides employees with the chance to build a career in IT using formal training and development programmes and a number of industry recognised qualifications, offering an alternative option to the more traditional University route.

In 2012, Atos have doubled their intake of apprentices from 15 in 2011 to 30. Most apprentices start in the summer, with the apprenticeship lasting for 12 months. Seventy-five percent of the 2011 intake, who have been through their apprenticeship have been awarded permanent roles as Business Technologists. Atos is committed to continuing to bring talented people onboard through the modern apprenticeship scheme and plans to recruit around 90 more apprentices in 2013. READ MORE

IT company lifted by £2m Games contract

The potential economic legacy of the Commonwealth Games 2014 has been underlined with the award of a £2 million-plus contract to North Lanarkshire IT services firm NVT, which says it will use it to create 15 modern apprenticeships – including three for athletes.

Scottish companies have won 312 of the 418 Games contracts awarded over the past three years, including almost 90% of the £276m "tier 1" contracts.

NVT says such contracts, won in a rigorous and transparent procurement process, demonstrate how the Games can showcase Scottish companies and help furnish a platform for future growth.

Steven Park Brown, chief executive of the firm, which employs 90 at Bellshill, said: "We have seen so many businesses sold because they can't scale up, we see the Games as an opportunity to showcase our services." READ MORE

'Young people' drive fall in unemployment

BBC Video explains how young people are driving the recent fall in unemployment! READ MORE

Apprentice Programme Takes Off At Sinclair Voicenet

East Kilbride-based Sinclair Voicenet, the UK's longest established specialist provider of multimedia interaction recording, quality management, interaction analytics and workforce management solutions, has proactively implemented an apprentice programme in partnership with QA Apprenticeships, the leading provider of training and learning services.

"This programme is providing young people with the expertise and skills needed to meet the growing demands of the business," commented David Kindness, Professional Services Director at Sinclair Voicenet. "It is a win-win situation as our apprentices know they are getting a nationally recognised qualification whilst we can be equally secure that our new employees have the required skills to hit the ground running when their apprenticeships are complete. We are already considering how to extend the scheme in the future."

QA Apprenticeships has been working in partnership with Sinclair Voicenet to offer several unique opportunities to individuals from the local area with the relevant qualifications and desire to start their careers in this exciting sector. The first two apprentices have already made the transition to permanent employment as Service Desk engineers after gaining key hardware, software and skills including ITIL Foundation level certification in IT Service Management. The latest recruit has joined Sinclair Voicenet as an apprentice Service Desk engineer on the same programme, which is focused on progressing these new employees into fully qualified systems engineers. READ MORE

Apprentices join the IT crowd at the University of St Andrews

Sam Foster, Peter Woodbridge and Steven Gonzales started work with the IT Services department at the University last month (September).

The new recruits will be working in the Service Desk, Web and Desktop teams – gaining a wide range of technical, practical and customer-care skills.

Steve Watt, Chief Information Officer at the University of St Andrews, said the apprentices would be able to tap into a wide range of IT expertise during their time at the University and receive invaluable support from training firm QA.

He said: “I’m delighted that we are able to offer three apprenticeship posts in my team for up to two years.

“It will give these young adults a great on-the-job learning experience, whilst receiving invaluable training and support from QA.

“Steven, Peter and Sam are joining the University at a very exciting time – as we approach our 600th anniversary.

“We’re the third oldest University in the UK – but we work hard to be innovative, customer-focused and forward-thinking in terms of IT.  READ MORE

QA creates over 200 jobs for young people in September

QA Apprenticeships, the leading IT and Business Apprenticeship provider is proud to have started a record number of apprentices this month.

Over 210 QA apprentices from Edinburgh to Essex took the first steps in their career this month - that makes 10 job starts per working day. Youth employment may be a hot topic but these figures prove that with the right attitude and support, UK employers are keen to recruit young talent into their businesses. READ MORE

Capgemini recruits again

Apprenticeships in Inverness and Nairn
 

Capgemini has announced a further intake of IT apprentices due to their success in Inverness and Nairn with their last campaign. They are recruiting for 12 new apprentices in IT. The apprenticeship program offers entry-level ICT roles at Capgemini with the opportunity for further career progression into a range of technical areas.

Successful candidates will gain valuable industry exposure and become an active member of the Capgemini team, providing the best head start to a successful career in the IT industry. After completing the apprenticeship program, you could qualify for a range of IT roles.

This news would be of particular interest to anyone working with young people to inform them of this fantastic opportunity in the Highlands.

For more information and to view the opportunity please click here