SSS and RSM Partners Close the IT Skills Gap with Mainframe Apprenticeship

In 2008, IT consultancy Strategic Systems Solutions (SSS) commenced the UK's first Advanced IT Apprenticeship. Their objective was to address the growing IT skills gap and create the next generation of mainframe developers. The award winning program has received much interest and positive feedback from the industry; not least from SSS's clients for whom the apprentices are now doing real work. Given this success SSS is planning to repeat the program next year. They are also developing a service in partnership with Leeds City College to help other organisations create their own IT apprenticeships and assist them with the training delivery and management.

RSM Partners are providing the apprentices with remote access to its IBM z Series mainframe, enabling them to gain that essential hands-on experience of using and developing on a mainframe platform, as well as contributing skilled personnel to support the training. The apprenticeship is the result of an original collaboration between SSS, Leeds College of Technology, Software AG, IBM, Logicalis and RSM Partners.

The apprenticeship, which is endorsed by the British Computer Society, e-Skills UK, and Learning and Skills Council, is a two year program. It started with a 6 month ‘boot camp’ at SSS covering core technical skills, the development lifecycle, business knowledge and professional skills. The final 18 months will be split: one day per week at college and four days a week putting the new skills into action for SSS clients.

Keith Shepherdson, Director of European Sales and Marketing for SSS enthused "The success of our program is in making it as real as possible for the apprentices. We are very appreciative that RSM Partners have provided a fully operational mainframe environment to do just that. Hopefully this will be the first of many such programs and the start of a positive partnership between the two organizations."

If you require any more information about the Apprenticeship program, please contact: john.merchant@sssworldwide.com