BT CASE STUDY James Grigor is Director of Internal Audit for BT. Having driven the early adoption of the CIMA apprenticeship scheme at BT James shares his experiences, the early successes and vision for the future of the programme. Why did you establish your apprenticeship programme? What are the benefits of employing apprentices? How do you screen applicants for these qualities? BT has been running apprenticeship schemes in different functions for many years. Until recently we hadn’t operated an apprenticeship within BT finance. Part of the catalyst to create the programme in 2012 was the changes made to university fees. We recognised that many talented and capable young people might no longer have the option of a university education and we wanted to offer an alternative route. This opportunity to support young people in their early careers is something we feel strongly committed to and it aligns well with BT’s values and our CSR aims. For employers there’s a great deal of benefit in tapping into the enthusiasm of these very capable young people. Many employers comment on the shortage of skilled people available to hire into roles in their organisations, one of the surest ways to address the skills gap over the long-term is to create your own talent pipeline. There are significant numbers of young people out there looking for an opportunity to shine. We run a very rigorous assessment centre to finalise selections. This comprises of a welcome to BT and some information about the apprenticeship, tests of numeracy and reasoning skills, a group exercise based on team working skills and an opportunity for a Q & A with our existing finance apprentices. Finally we invite a shortlist of successful applicants from the assessment centres to attend a final interview, following which we decide if we will be inviting the applicant to join the programme. What drives your passion for the programme? I myself didn’t take the traditional University route having entered the workplace immediately after completing my A-levels. I was fortunate that my employer gave me tremendous encouragement to take my What qualities do you seek in apprentices? Numeracy of course is a priority, being comfortable working with numbers and numerical reasoning is a required strength. Communication skills are also very important to us because finding the right solution to a problem is only part of the role they are preparing for. Our finance apprentices must be inquisitive problem solvers, able to communicate and influence people in a way BT is a CIMA premier partner and we work together on the continuous professional development of the finance community and in particular the promotion of our apprenticeship programme. professional exams and become a Chartered Management Accountant, so my own personal experience drives my passion for the programme. that drives the right decisions and behaviours. Whilst studying and working full-time, showing commitment and managing time is also very important. How do you manage the career expectations of Gen Y apprentices? One of the challenges is that many of these young people are entering the workplace for the first time, they are inexperienced but very ambitious. How we structure the work experiences is aligned to the needs of our business but it is also structured in such a way that it fulfils the practical experience requirements of CIMA. We are clear from the outset in respect of our performance expectations, in work and in examinations, and we have a defined reward structure aligned to levels of success in each. Apprentices rotate around the business during the scheme, which enables them to have insight into different parts of BT and broaden their work experience. As a global corporation apprentices also have the opportunity for international travel. With these insights over the four year period, we are aiding career decisions for when they roll off the programme. Please turn over... How do you support your apprentices? Support for the apprentices is multi-faceted. Each of our apprentices is assigned to a buddy, someone who is or has been on the same training journey very recently with BT. Apprentices and line managers are guided in how to support the apprentices now working for them. We have a dedicated co-ordinator for the apprentices who hold regular 1 to 1 meetings with each apprentice to monitor their progress and offer guidance and support. During the first year of the apprenticeship they are assigned a tutor from our training provider who meets regularly with the apprentice and line manager. The examination preparation is delivered by BPP and we offer study leave as well as leave to sit examinations. Apprentices are also invited to attend informal roundtable lunches with senior managers including Tony Chanumugam our group finance director. How has CIMA supported you with your apprenticeship programme? BT is a CIMA premier partner and we work together on the continuous professional development of the finance community and in particular the promotion of our apprenticeship programme. We advertise our vacancies through the CIMA My Jobs website and inform teachers and career advisor of our scheme at CIMA events. What advice would you give to other employers? I would advise other employers to get involved too. Take time to set up your programme, learn from other organisations already on the journey and seek the support of CIMA who are available to provide valuable insight. Like every successful recruitment - the key is to make sure your hiring approach attracts and identifies strong candidates. Once on-board ensure that your apprentices benefit from a first class induction and development programme. What ambitions do you have for the apprenticeship programme? There is already a high-level of recognition for the apprentices we have brought in to BT over the past two years and that is tremendously satisfying. My ambition for the programme would be that some of the young people we take into the programme each year will be so startlingly good that they will be recognised as talent within BT and I will see their careers take-off within just a few short years. There is already a high-level of recognition for the apprentices we have brought in to BT over the past two years and that is tremendously satisfying. www.cimaglobal.com