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- QA's been involved with Microsoft, since the inception of this program,
and we remain today the lead provider across the UK of Microsoft Partner
Apprenticeships. So it's no surprise today to see so many
young people who have received awards being apprentices that QA have taken
through the programs. We've trained them, we've helped find them employment in the
first place, and we've assessed them in the workplace, and helped them achieve
their Microsoft certification.
- We're at this Parliamentary reception because David here
was lucky enough to win Microsoft Apprentice of the Year.
- I'm quite shocked really. I feel really lucky, and I guess
it's all thanks to Nigel for taking a chance on me.
- David's just been a model apprentice since he started with us.
He lives a long way away from where we work, he's always in early,
he's always coming up with some bright ideas to add to the team,
and I think it's just in recognition, of his aptitude and his attitude.
- I think it's fantastic. I spoke to a lot of IT employers, and they said
they value experience over qualifications, in IT, so, and this
provides me with experience, and qualifications.
- QA has really helped us right from the start, the search
and selection process was excellent. We as a business are
based down in the wilds of Sussex, and therefore there isn't
a great supply of people who wanted our sort of apprenticeship.
But QA found David, which has obviously worked out very well for us.
- We're delighted to be here at the Houses of Parliament today
for Microsoft's Apprentice of the Year Awards. Even getting through,
to this level of the nomination is really exciting.
- I feel really good about today. I was really excited about becoming runner-up.
I wasn't expecting it at all.
- It's so great, you get to meet people from top level of Microsoft,
to get that recognition, you know, they've come out here today
to meet us, meet the apprentices, show us how important it is
to Microsoft as well.
- I also had the opportunity of meeting my local MP.
So he grabbed me just before this and just wished me luck.
- The way QA has been really good to us is that we were cold going into
the scheme. We've never had an apprentice before we took
on Charlie, and we didn't even know how to approach,
the market to find somebody, never mind put together the
appropriate training required. QA helped us from the outset
by identifying possible candidates, interviewing them for us,
providing a short list, and then allowing us to go through that short list
to find the right person who would fit with our business.
Following on from the interview process, they spent a lot of time,
training, Charlie spent about eight weeks on boot camp -
- Yes.
- So, he's away from Monday morning to Friday night studying
the Microsoft technology stack, and to bring that back into the office,
and learning it, and taking it further with our team who supports him
throughout the process.
- QA continues to expand the number of apprenticeship
programs it offers, covering a whole range of technologies.
And that means there's more and more opportunity for employers,
to engage in a program like this, but also for young people to pursue,
the kind of interests that they have in this technology arena.
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