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London South Bank University (LSBU) has teamed up with the professional services provider FDM Group to announce a new apprenticeship scheme through the university.
The apprenticeship offers young people the opportunity to get a foot in the door of the technology industry through a degree-level apprenticeship. Through a combination of on-the-job training and traditional study, candidates will learn to take on key IT roles eventually earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Digital and Technology.
With the rising cost of living, many students are turning away from the expensive university route in order to earn money while they complete their training. Young people were hit especially hard by the pandemic, so apprenticeships like this one are becoming more vital as an alternate paths to success. LSBU’s Head of Business Engagement Manjinder Chhokran highlights the importance of apprenticeships in training young people for their future careers.
“Apprenticeship courses are a vital route for helping people gain the necessary skills to thrive in the technology industry, whilst benefitting from on-the-job training,” Chhokran says, “We are very proud to be working with FDM Group to widen access to these courses, helping support people from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds to benefit from world-class degree courses.”
In addition to helping young people in a time of extreme economic instability, LSBU and FDM Group pledge to assist people from underprivileged backgrounds and to maintain a healthy gender balance in an attempt to change the male dominated tech landscape.
FDM Group’s CEO Rod Flavell explains how the apprenticeship scheme is designed to benefit people from underprivileged backgrounds, allowing anyone who wishes to find a career in the technology industry a chance to learn.
“This is another very exciting development in our apprenticeship programme, which has been designed to break down barriers that all too often prevent young people from gaining a foothold in the technology industry,” Flavell says, “We’re proud to be working alongside London South Bank University to spread opportunity and access to these critical courses, which have the potential to transform lives and give young people across the whole country access to a fantastic career.”
Originally the Borough Polytechnic Institute, LSBU specialises in practical education with a heavy focus on employability. The university is located in Elephant and Castle, a stone’s throw from the cultural and business opportunities of Central London. FDM has an existing partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, and more partnerships are expected to follow.
