Distology has launched an apprenticeship scheme that aims to create a “bed of talent” for the industry.
The Stockport-based security VAD is set to take on its first three apprentices this Autumn, but may very well not go on to absorb them itself.
Talking to IT Channel Oxygen, Chloe Thirlwall, Head of People Success at Distology, said the scheme had been “years in the making”.
She characterised it as a “passion project” for the NorthEdge-backed LogRhythm, Okta, Verkada and Yubico partner.
“A lot of people take on apprentices to have them in their own business – we’re not necessarily doing that,” she said.
“At the end of the term of their contract, they will either apply to stay with us, or we will help them get a new role within the channel.
“We’re not at the size where we’re able to absorb everyone we want to help, but we are in a position to help springboard them into the channel.
“Rather than creating our own talent, we want to create a bed of talent that can then go into the industry.”
Distology will take on two technical sales and one finance apprentice, with the courses set to start in September or October, Thirlwall said.
Initially aimed at 16-21-year-olds, they will run for either 15 or 18 months.
“We’re hoping to get them into the business a little bit earlier for a settling-in period,” Thirlwall said.
“Their idea of tech is so far off the mark”
Distology CEO Hayley Roberts is one of the co-founders of the Tech Channel Ambassadors, a new community interest company seeking to raise awareness of the career opportunities across the IT channel.
She recently revealed plans to take the the initiative nationwide.
School leavers have a blinkered view of the job opportunities on offer in the tech sector, Thirlwall claimed.
“We’ve been out there and done careers days. We’ve supported the EY Foundation and have worked with The Prince’s Trust,” she said.
“We’ve done all sorts of things to get to know what they think, and their idea is of tech is so far off the mark.
“They think that if they’re not from STEM or coding then they can’t come into the tech industry. There are so many variations of things they can do.”
“Not the easy option”
Setting up an apprenticeship scheme is “not the easy option”, Thirlwall said.
“You’ve got someone coming in who may never have used Outlook before, never mind being in an office. They’re not going to be on the ground running, and some of them are not going to be full independent at work for a while,” she said.
“We’re only starting with three because we want to get it right. We want to make sure we’re getting constant feedback from them and the rest of the business to support them.
“We’ve had the training companies we’re working with in and everyone in Distology is on board and excited to get going on it.”
Doug Woodburn is editor of IT Channel Oxygen
