Global consulting firm offering unemployed young people the chance to ‘get into tech’ 

Thirteen young people not in education, employment or training are being offered the chance to forge a career in tech on a two-week placement programme.

Accenture, the global consulting giant, is helping the group of young people to gain a range of tech skills as part of a charity scheme in Scotland.

The two-week programme, which started on 10 June, forms part of the employability scheme of employer-led charity, Movement to Work (MtW) and will be delivered in the global firm’s Scottish office ensuring participants are fully immersed in the company and its culture. 

Partnering with The Prince’s Trust Scotland for the sixth year, Get Into Tech builds on the success of previous programmes and will help participants to break the ‘no experience, no job – no job, no experience’ cycle.

During the two-week programme, the young people will learn skills relating to cyber security, app testing, website building and robotic process automation, in addition to receiving training on CV and covering letter writing, interview and presentation and team working.

Following the programme, participants will be encouraged to apply for the Accenture apprenticeship or other appropriate roles within the organisation.

Michelle Hawkins, Managing Director, Accenture Scotland, said: “We know that skills and training programmes can help build confidence, and it is partnerships with employers that help build the essential bridge into the world of work in a supportive way. Young people are our country’s biggest asset. At Accenture, we are committed to equipping the next generation of leaders with the skills they need and to developing the workforce of the future.”

Kate Still, Director, The Prince’s Trust Scotland said: “Our partnership with Accenture will once again focus on giving young people the opportunity to gain vital skills in order to pursue a career in the ever growing Scottish tech industry. Building on previous MtW schemes, the Get Into Tech programme offers our young people the chance to enhance their employability skills, increase their confidence and gain the experience needed to enter the job market.”

Forming part its flagship Corporate Citizenship programme, Skills to Succeed, Accenture co-founded MtW in 2013 to collectively address youth unemployment in the UK.

MtW has delivered 80,000 work placements over the last five years for young people who are not in education, employment or training and need extra support to get on the career ladder. Over 50% of those who have completed a MtW work placement have gone onto employment or back into education.

Across the UK, Accenture has provided over 850 technology and digital work placements from 2014-2019 across London, Newcastle and Edinburgh; 651 participants completed a multi-week placement, and 53% (342) moved into employment. Of the 342 that moved into employment, 42 joined Accenture (36 as technology apprentices, and 6 as either graduates or experienced hires).