THE BUSINESS
We worked with a gaming technology business that invents new casino games, betting, fintech and software solutions, specialising in software development, product management, design and analytics. They have over 700 employees across their offices in Spain, Germany and the UK.
THE CHALLENGE
Shaping a more diverse technology sector.
As a growing technology company, our client felt a responsibility to invest in the next generation of talent and also to help improve the diversity of the tech sector. Recognising the underrepresentation of young women and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, they were motivated to do something that would have a positive impact. They also wanted to get their people involved – not only to develop their skills, but so they too could play an active role in shaping the future of the industry.
OUR APPROACH
A mentoring scheme that evolved into something even greater.
Beginning in October 2021, our initial brief was to create and manage a mentoring programme that would inspire and engage diverse young people and help them see their future in technology.
We carefully selected and partnered with six schools in the company’s local community, running outreach sessions to showcase their employer brand and open students’ eyes to the possibilities of a career in technology. We encouraged those who were interested to apply for our year-long mentoring programme.
After considerable interest, we paired 15 members of the internal team with 15 interested year 13 students for monthly one-to-one mentoring sessions, plus a range of career development and insight workshops. As well as offering school-leavers an ongoing opportunity for invaluable advice and support, the aim was also to encourage employees to develop their skills and engage with the diversity agenda in a meaningful way.
But the more time the team spent with their mentees, the more potential they saw – so much so that they decided to use this talent pool for hiring. Despite the tight timeline, having a ready-made, representative pipeline meant we could move quickly. Our client commissioned Visionpath to help design their first-ever apprenticeship roles, find a high-quality apprentice training provider, train managers to support apprentices, and map out an engaging onboarding process.
In summer 2022 our client hired and welcomed one apprentice for a cyber security role, along with a paid intern for their marketing and innovation team.
THE RESULTS
- Delivered workshops in 15 schools across London
- Engaged over 300 young people, with 100 applying to the programme
- Selected 15 students to take part in the technology mentoring programme
- After impressing our client with their potential, 1 apprentice and 1 paid intern were hired
- We’re now embarking on another year of the programme, working with young people in London and Reading
Want to know how we can create and manage a bespoke apprenticeship programme for your business? Get in touch.
