Applications rocket 300% for London-based apprenticeship jobs at PwC

Applications to professional services firm PwC, for their London based Higher Apprenticeship and School Leaver programme have risen 318% since the financial crisis began, as the City gears up for one of the largest ever Apprenticeship fairs in Hackney on Wednesday. Applications from London and the surrounds to the firms school leaver programmes doubled last year to over 1000, as over 30 new Higher Apprenticeship jobs were created in the firms London Bridge and Embankment based Consulting and Tax teams. 40% of all applications nationwide for student level jobs were for London roles. PwC has recruited London school leavers for over ten years, and last year the firm launched the first ever nationally recognised Higher Apprenticeship for the professional services industry. The programme offers students the chance to earn while they learn, and work towards an internationally recognised industry qualification in tax, consulting or audit. This year the firm will recruit around 50 Higher Apprentices in London in Tax and Consulting.

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Create a tech-centred growth plan, says Qubic

08/08/2013

Technology is still being underused by small companies with aspirations for growth, according to communications and cloud computing specialist Qubic.

The company says that technology can play a key role in helping businesses grow quicker by freeing them up from the commitments many of them are making with IT infrastructures built in-house. Particularly painful for businesses are the initial investments they are making in hardware. Chris Papa, the Managing Director of Qubic (www.qubicgroup.com ), said, With small and medium-sized businesses having been particularly badly hit by the economic downturn, they are the ones most in need of extra support to enable them to prosper. A hosted solution can help encourage start ups and SMEs in general to grow as it means that businesses can use technology on a pay-as-you-use basis as opposed to tying up cash in a server with a telephone system which costs a fortune. Hosted technology can help by streamlining these companies operations and making them mo re efficient, in particular those who have limited resources in terms of staff and capital. Using hosted technology to create efficiencies can actually save costs and allow companies to operate far more effectively.

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Companies face staff exodus if they fail to nurture their entrepreneurial workforce
08/08/2013

Research looking into the state of the UK workforce by beauty giants LOral has revealed were a nation of burning entrepreneurs, and that companies face losing their employees if they arent willing to embrace their workers ideas and innovations.

The research, released today, reveals that three-quarters of British people (73%) were more concerned about having their contributions valued at work than a good salary or benefits package. Over a third of people (38%) want the opportunity to have their ideas heard by their employers, and more than a quarter (27%) are currently sitting on ideas that they think would be good for business. Despite this, the majority of companies (71%) dont have a platform in place for such contributions to be made. Tellingly, three-quarters of workers (73%) felt you could only really demonstrate creative and entrepreneurial initiative in smaller companies. This frustration was further emphasised by the revelation that almost nine out of ten people (89%) felt uninspired by their own boss, with the majority looking externally for inspiration from those they considered entrepreneurs. In a stark warning to employers, over a quarter of people (26%), said they feel undervalued, whilst almost a third (30%) said they felt unable to fulfil their full potential with their current company and plan on moving to another job within the next year.

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Indias consulting market grows by 4% to over $1.5bn

07/08/2013

Reflecting the recent economic slowdown in India, a Source Information Servicesreport released today (7th August 2013) has found that the Indian consulting market grew by 4% in 2012 to just over $1.5bn. The report says that despite this modest growth, the economic slowdown has in some ways become an important driver of demand in Indias consulting market as clients seek help to both increase revenue and improve efficiency. Interestingly, the Source report found that small and family-owned businesses are becoming increasingly important buyers of consulting services in India as a new breed of young, highly-educated business people rise in the ranks and are eager to take their businesses to the global stage. BJ Richards, senior analyst at Source and author of the report commented: Much as weve seen happen in the Middle East, the conservative, provincial local businesses of India are being transformed by a new generation of sophisticated, highly educated young professionals who are confidently taking the helm, steering their ships into international waters.

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Capgeminis recruitment drive moves into top gear

Capgemini UK is seeking to recruit 100 new apprentices in the Birmingham and West Midlands region this year as part of a significant increase in its commitment to its national apprenticeship programmes. Capgemini is one of the worlds foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, and last year hired 44 new apprentices in Birmingham. Capgemini employs some 8,000 people in the UK where its clients range from HM Revenue & Customs and the Metropolitan Police to Rolls-Royce, Tesco and Unilever. The expanded scope of this years recruitment plan reflects the success of the 2012 intake, and the increasing interest among young people in apprenticeships as an alternative to university. Those joining Capgeminis Higher Apprentice Programme have an opportunity to progress onward to gain a funded BSc (Hons) degree in Computing and IT Practice, with all tuition fees paid.

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