Tech consultancy AND Digital has welcomed five new starts as part of its graduate software development and business apprenticeships programme at Club Almeida in Glasgow.

Working alongside the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian University, AND Digital advertised externally to attract interest from four young people excited to gain entry level positions into the tech industry.

Each candidate completed a three-round process to secure the funded and paid-for positions which includes working at AND Digital four days and attending university one day each week.

On completion of the four-year course, each graduate apprentice will have obtained a BSc (Hons) in Software Development and gained a solid start to their career in tech.

AND Digital has created an 18-month business apprentice position, providing administrative and operational support to its business unit.

The apprentice will be supported by partner Limelight Careers to complete Level 3 Apprenticeship in Business Administration.

People Lead for Club Almeida, Kelly Innes, said: “We’re very excited to welcome our brand-new apprentices into our business and offer the individual support they’ll need to learn and grow. They’re each at the start of very exciting careers.

“AND Digital is growing at such a rapid rate, the opportunities for the graduate apprentices to progress with us are varied – they’ll each have choices and career opportunities upon completion of their courses.

“They’ll have grown so much throughout the four years, and will know our business inside and out. It’s such a strong starting point for them in their tech careers, and for us as a business.”

The new ANDis (the name AND Digital gives its people) are from different backgrounds and will begin their careers in tech by completing a week-long ANDuction to introduce them to the culture, ways of working, values, and organisational structure, which everyone receives upon joining.

The graduate apprentices will complete a further two-week ANDbootcamp to gain technical insight into Agile ways of working.

Additionally, each of the apprentices will be fully supported in their development by the AND Digital Academy team, their business units, and a dedicated career coach.

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Innes continued: “Our business apprentice has just turned 18 and she will be working very closely with me and across the Club Almeida team on lots of interesting projects – it’ll be a fantastic opportunity and will support her in successfully completing her apprenticeship modules.

“As a company we love to welcome emerging talent. We’re sure the new apprentices will be a great fit and add to our existing teams of highly skilled and diverse people.

“This diversity of thought is what enables us to continually reflect fresh and innovative ideas to clients in rich and meaningful ways – delighting them and offering us an interesting and fun place to work.”

The AND Digital apprenticeships programme is being piloted at Club Almeida, with the firm saying it is looking to develop this approach across its UK Clubs.

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