PDS, a division of Global Knowledge, has recently announce the launch of a new Microsoft Higher Apprenticeship programme. This new initiative responds directly to skills shortages identified by Microsoft customers and partners by offering additional flexibility to the delivery of the existing programme. This new approach allows employers a logical route beyond Advanced Apprenticeships with significantly more Microsoft content options beyond Windows Server 2012 such as Office 365 and Lync. For your organisations, it ensures Apprenticeship education is aligned specifically to meeting your business skills objectives.
PDS’ Microsoft Higher Apprenticeship is a core strand of Microsoft UK’s Youth Initiative ‘Get on’ – a programme to help 300,000 young people get inspired, get skilled and get a job. The Higher Apprenticeship is designed to help Microsoft customers and partners bring new talent into the industry. The new programme can leverage Global Knowledge’s award winning virtual delivery options along with a bespoke approach to the integration of Microsoft certifications and pathways, offering routes up to MCSA in Server, Desktop and Database pathways with elective options. It also provides an ideal stepping stone to those partners who have previously employed Advanced Apprentices at level 3, offering them progression and continued professional development in line with business requirements.
Having a highly skilled workforce is vital to businesses of all sizes. This means that employment now and in the future requires more highly skilled people. Higher Apprenticeships are helping to meet this need. According the UK Commission for Employment and Skills UKCES; Skills shortages are rising fast and employers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit the skilled workers they need in key areas, with *95% of business reporting that it was impacting their business. The Higher Apprenticeship incorporates a work-based learning programme and leads to a nationally recognised qualification at Level 4 and above: They offer a new work-based route into professions which have traditionally been the preserve of graduates.
“This is a welcome addition to The Microsoft Partner Apprenticeships and the Get-On initiative. The development of higher level skills equivalent to those of graduates is key to the continued success and growth of our partners. This new programme directly addresses the skills needs of partners, offering a flexible approach to the design and delivery of the overall programme and its certifications” Chris Burr, Microsoft Learning Experiences.
To find out more about this exciting new development and to hear directly from employers and higher apprentices about how they have improved business performance; register now to secure your place.
[*]Employers and the labour market UKCES 2013