The challenge
Bespoke IT Solutions knew the value apprentices bring to a business. They offer an effective way to bring new people into technology, develop talent around the needs of the business, and give individuals the opportunity to build a career in IT.
However, when previously recruiting an apprentice directly, the company found that the added complexity surrounding apprenticeships was a distraction. The IT managed service provider (MSP) wanted a simpler, more manageable way to make its next service desk hire.
As a busy and growing business, the team at Bespoke IT Solutions wanted to focus their time on finding and developing a great person, rather than navigating the employment, training, funding, and administration that sits behind an apprenticeship.
The solution
Thankfully for the IT services company, there’s a solution that removes the complexity around apprenticeships: Reed Talent Solutions’ flexi-job apprenticeship programme. This offered a much simpler route to bringing an apprentice into the business.
Reed Talent Solutions recruited an IT support apprentice, sourcing and assessing candidates before presenting a shortlist. Bespoke IT Solutions interviewed and selected the successful apprentice, who was then employed through Reed's flexi-job apprenticeship model.
The apprentice was deployed into Bespoke IT Solutions, working as an embedded part of the team to gain the practical experience vital to their development. Using this model, Reed Talent Solutions employs and pays the apprentice, as well as managing their apprenticeship training and funding.
Reed Talent Solutions also provided dedicated support throughout the apprenticeship, working closely with Bespoke IT Solutions and the apprenticeship training provider to ensure everything ran smoothly and that the apprentice was gaining the skills, knowledge, and experience required to develop their career in IT.
The results
By using Reed Talent Solutions' flexi-job apprenticeship programme, Bespoke IT Solutions gained a productive employee who is boosting the team’s capability and supporting its growth. Additionally, the apprentice is developing their technical and professional skills within a real work environment, starting them on their IT career pathway.
This solution ensures the organisation can focus on the apprentice’s day-to-day development, while also providing access to great talent, a straightforward financial model with predictable costs. Meanwhile, Reed Talent Solutions takes care of the complexity behind the scenes.
James West-Cox, Chief Business Officer at Bespoke IT Solutions, highlights how the company has benefitted from the programme:
“Kelly [from Reed] has been fantastic throughout. The service and support from Reed Talent Solutions have made the experience really easy, but most importantly, the quality of [the apprentice] has been excellent. They are a great addition to the team and we can focus on giving them the experience and support they needs to develop their career in IT.
“For a busy organisation that wants to invest in apprentices but doesn’t want all the complexity that can come with doing it directly, it feels like a no-brainer.”
This example showcases the advantages of Reed Talent Solutions’ flexi-job apprenticeship programme. The apprentice gets an opportunity to make a difference to an organisation and gain hands-on experience and start on their career pathway.
For Bespoke IT Solutions, it means the company can continue doing something it already firmly believes in - investing in apprentices and developing its own future talent. Only it does so without the unpredictable costs and complexity that can occur if it were to hire an apprentice without support.
Want to build your future talent pipeline but don’t want to handle the administration that comes with apprenticeships? Find out more about how Reed Talent Solutions' flexi-job apprenticeship programme can support you.
