Local SME doubles the size of its graduate programme to tackle skills shortage

Wolverhampton IT firm, Technology Management, takes on 10 new graduates into the 5th year of its graduate programme.

As a lack of skills, especially in the West Midlands, is the focus of many a headline at the moment, it’s now more important than ever that companies in the region take matters into their own hands to help secure their futures. As Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The evidence is clear: better digital skills make firms more productive, and a lack of digital skills holds them back.”

Wolverhampton IT firm and Microsoft partner, Technology Management, has a graduate scheme that is now in its fifth year of operation. 2017 sees the firm take on 10 graduates, the highest number since the scheme began back in 2013.

“Here at Technology Management, the continuing demand for experienced IT staff puts constant pressure on availability and costs for both us and our customers. By training our own graduates we can develop the best talent to faster meet our clients’ requirements and ultimately deliver better impact for their performance and growth, said James Crowter, Managing Director of Technology Management.

James continues, “It’s also great to create opportunities for the next generation in the area - to develop the skills that will lead to the productive well-paid careers we’ve had”.

For a local SME, increasing its workforce by almost 10% with graduate trainees is no mean feat. But Technology Management has made a significant investment in developing a scheme of which much larger firms would be envious. It covers not only the technical/IT skills the graduates need for their roles but also delivers an all-round commercial understanding of business and the soft skills required to perform at the top.

James Crowter continues, “The skills shortage is something that affects us all – large and small businesses alike. With no sign of the constant change or competitive pressure within our clients slowing, it’s vital to skill up the younger generation so we have people to turn to in the future. By looking for aptitude rather than purely a direct skills match, it meant we could get people on board with the right attitude to learning – everything else we can teach in-house” explains James. “Our 2017 intake all have good degrees - in everything from Computer Science to Ancient History as well as Accounting and Finance.”

Recruited from universities both around the midlands and further afield, the ten graduates studied as close as Aston University, the University of Birmingham and the University of Wolverhampton and as far away as the University of Liverpool.

This year’s intake includes 4 female graduates, which is the highest female graduate rate for a single intake at Technology Management to date, and the company was thrilled so many women had applied this time around.

Technology Management now have a total of 106 employees, of which 20% are staff

More information

For additional information:

Claire Rose
Technology Management Ltd
St Mark's Church
St Mark's Road
Wolverhampton WV3 0QH
Tel: +44 (0) 1902 578 300

that have come through the company’s graduate scheme. Graduate passion is future business power.