New ICT academy will train apprentices

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy and representatives from Microsoft attended the launch at the college.

The partnership between the college and Microsoft Gold partner risual will see more than 20 apprentices progress through the academy and into roles at the company's headquarters at Staffordshire Technology Park, Beaconside.

Students will study a tailor-made NVQ qualification in a specially developed IT hub at Stafford College, enabling risual to double its usual annual intake of apprentices in a commitment to developing young people's ICT skills.

Innovative

Anyone interested in IT can apply to the academy – whether they eventually want to be based in the projects office or involved in the industry through a marketing or finance role. Opportunities will be available to study Level 2, 3 and Higher Apprenticeships in ICT and other business functions.

Chris Clifford, director of business development and marketing at Stafford College, said: "We are delighted to be working directly with risual who are one of the most innovative and rapidly growing IT companies in the area. We support their vision for growth and the launch of this bespoke academy apprenticeship programme will provide our students with a direct pathway to exciting employment opportunities.

"Students will benefit from working with a forward thinking company that wants to invest in the region, with access to the latest technology and support from industry experts."

risual director Richard Proud said: "We are really excited to be working with Stafford College and to be providing a wide range of opportunities to a new set of learners.

"risual's growth is fuelled by raw talent. Part of our company ethos is to be able to take young people, give them opportunities within the business, help them develop their career and give them training. We want talented and entrepreneurial people who we can develop and progress very quickly and that is where we fuel our next generation of growth from. Apprentices with risual have genuine opportunity and career prospects. We have many examples of how an apprentice has progressed through our organisation."

Clare Barclay, general manager for UK small and medium solutions and partners at Microsoft, added; "As more businesses look to technology to help them succeed, innovate and grow the demand for skilled professionals is increasing.

"We are delighted to see the partnership between risual and Stafford College with the launch of the risual Academy, and the commitment to building the next generation of the workforce through high value apprenticeships and digital skills training. Microsoft's apprentice programme was rolled out nationally in 2010 and since then has gone from strength to strength. Over 2,100 apprentices started their careers in Microsoft Partners and customers in 2013/2014 and we expect to increase this to 3,500 this year. There has never been a better time for business of all sizes to take on an apprentice, and with 92 per cent staying on with the company where they started, they offer a loyal and motivated addition to the workforce."

The academy hub at the college has had a £50,00 investment in the latest IT equipment and has been decorated by renowned artists Graffiti Kings to mirror the style of risual's headquarters at Staffordshire Technology Park.

The Academy has been launched amidst estimates from the Science Council that suggest the ICT workforce will grow by 39 per cent by 2030 and research from City & Guilds revealing that three quarters of employers in the IT, digital and information services sector were facing skills shortages.

To apply for Apprenticeship opportunities at the risual Academy, call Stafford College on 01785 223 800 or email careers@risual.com.