As the final weeks of the year roll in, we always like to take a moment to look back and reflect.
From the moment we started the business over 10 years ago, opening up opportunities for young people to join the technology industry has been at the heart of the way we operate. Getting started as a software developer is hard. Companies often only want to hire developers with a degree and several years of experience. One of the biggest upsides to building our business from the ground up is that we can craft things our way and incorporate the things that are important to us. So, we decided to follow a different path and develop our own entry-level programme for young people. Apprenticeships form a vital part of this and it’s working.
Earlier this year, we won the Apprenticeship Employer Award at the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards which was an incredible feeling after all the hard work we’ve put into getting the scheme up and running and was a great opportunity to raise awareness to other businesses on how rewarding an apprenticeship scheme can be. The cherry on the cake arrived yesterday, where we were victorious at the South East regional ceremony for the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award 2024.
We’re proud to say that 50% of our team came through the apprenticeship route, and our business wouldn’t be where it is today without them. The combination of academic learning and hands-on experience is invaluable for the apprentices and the wider team. It’s a joy to see our apprentices grow their skills and knowledge and to see them take on bigger roles as they progress.
Our current apprenticeship programme is focused on a degree apprenticeship in digital technologies. This offers the apprentice the chance to earn a degree as they work in the industry, graduating with no student debt and several years’ experience of practical, relevant work. At the end of the apprenticeship, there are opportunities to progress to next level of role and to keep on growing and learning in the ever-evolving digital world.
We’re immensely proud of Niall and Jamie who have both recently completed their Apprenticeship Degrees with us and now focusing on developing their digital careers with us.
And so it continues. We are now recruiting for our 2025 Software Development Degree Apprentice, giving another young person the opportunity to get into the technology industry, gaining a degree and hands-on work experience simultaneously. Details and how to apply can be found here.
Who are we?
We are Olamalu, Drupal experts and experienced web developers. We’re a friendly and down-to-earth team based in West Oxfordshire, who work together to achieve brilliant outcomes. We’ve been developing websites and designing tailor-made tech solutions for a huge range of different challenges for over 10 years.
September 2024