Apprenticeships combine work and training to give young people a real job, qualifications and experience that employers want. They are a cost-effective and low-risk alternative to graduate employment, allowing employers to bring young, high-calibre staff into their business, whilst providing them with an excellent platform to build a successful career without committing to large debts.

QA Apprenticeships is a multi-award winning provider of IT and business services apprenticeships throughout Scotland.  QA’s programme has won Apprenticeship Programme of the Year 2012, 2013 and 2014 and 94% of QA Apprentices secure permanent jobs at the end of their apprenticeship.

In the last year QA has trained over 1,700 apprentices and created over 1,000 new jobs for the UK’s young people. Among the QA Apprenticeships employer partners are British Gas, BSkyB, Capgemini, Cisco and Capita.

Developing Scotland’s finest IT talent

QA is part of the 2016 for 2016 pledge to create 2016 IT Modern apprenticeships in three years which will double Microsoft’s apprentice intake in Scotland. It is part of the technology giant’s ‘Get On’ initiative to get 300,000 young people into work over the next three years.

QA Apprenticeships, as Scotland’s leading IT apprenticeships provider, will have a leading role in the initiative; creating, filling and providing training for as many of the new job roles as possible, working with Microsoft’s partner network.

Sam Foster, QA Apprentice, is the Scottish Modern Apprentice of the Year 2014. He works for the University of St Andrews and was chosen as the winner from the hundreds of apprentices backed by Microsoft and employed by its partner businesses.

Sam was nominated by the University of St Andrews for his hard work and excellence throughout the apprenticeship and was recognised specifically for his commitment and dedication.

He said “I’ve really enjoyed my time at the University of St Andrews so far and I’m so happy to have won this award. My apprenticeship has made me certain that I want to work in the IT industry and has given me a chance to get the skills I need to do just that. I would like to say thank you to Microsoft, The University of St Andrews and QA for giving me this opportunity.”

To find out more, please contact Gary Standen on 0141 226 1347 or visit qa.com/apprenticeships