Four talented young trainees at Leeds-based automotive data and technology business cap hpi have moved up a gear after completing apprenticeships and landing full time positions.
The quartet of software development apprentices including Alex Maughan (25) of Harrogate, Holly Anusic (22) from Bingley, Wesley Spellman(20) from Huddersfield and Zahid Rahman (19) from Leeds, have been offered full time contracts as junior engineers having successfully completed their 15-month in-house apprenticeship at the global business.
The apprenticeship scheme is the first one offered by cap hpi, operated in conjunction with Estio Training, one of the UK’s leading providers of IT apprenticeships. Following the success of this initiative, further apprenticeship programmes will now be run across different areas of the business.
The apprentices, who began their journeys together in March 2018, have earned a Level 3 City & Guilds qualification as software development technicians. Wesley and Zahid are awaiting final qualification confirmation but also expected to achieve Level 3 City & Guilds.
The initiative was developed to provide on the job training with real live projects carried out by dedicated teams, while at the same time establishing a great learning framework for the apprentices.
Throughout their time in the business, the apprentices have been fully immersed in live client projects and working closely with numerous development teams across the business including Danger Mice, The Code Monkeys, Snack Overflow, Trail Blazers and Bourbons.
Tasks included programming and coding, primarily looking at C#, .NET, T-SQL plus front-end HTML and Angular as well as app development and live end-user projects for clients such as the Maltese Government, which involved updating and adding new features to existing systems for hybrid car pricing in Malta.
The apprenticeship programme was implemented and managed by Helen Wright, head of development at cap hpi, who ensured the correct balance of classroom-based training and portfolio assessed work with real-time work-based objectives was achieved.
Commented Helen: “Our first ever apprentice scheme has been a resounding success and our junior engineers have exceeded all expectations. We originally established our software development apprenticeship scheme to specifically overcome problems we faced in recruiting developers with the necessary skills to work in the dynamic automotive technology sector. What they’ve also managed to achieve is to pave the way for future developers and other important roles within the business as the initiative has been expanded as part of our ongoing recruitment commitment. As a department, we will be bringing in a minimum of two new apprentices this September.
“The four have flourished working in a live working environment and their individual contributions to the business have been phenomenal. In the ever-changing world of automotive data, it’s vital to us as an industry leading global operator that we attract and nurture the best possible talent and this represents the start of this. We already have great teams of talented engineers working in the business who are ideal mentors, so to see our latest recruits becoming part of this process for incoming talent is very positive.”
Added Chris Wright, managing director of cap hpi: “Our apprentices have been great and the impact they have had on the business has been marked. I’m delighted that they will all be staying with us and seamlessly integrated where their core skills are strongest. On the basis of this success to support the next generation of emerging talent cap hpi has expanded its apprenticeship scheme and will create opportunities for further apprenticeships between now and the end of the year.”
