NTT data announced the graduation of its sponsored candidates participating in the route2work digital skills Academy programme.
The scheme forms part of the outfit’s activities designed to support women into tech careers and invest in their development as they progress. The graduates of the route2work programme, who come from a wide range of backgrounds, received training in Microsoft skills.
The partnership with route2work saw NTT data fund scholarships for 30 women to enrol in one of four digital skills and it aimed to give those who otherwise lacked opportunities to enter the industry.
Many candidates involved in the scheme were working in another sector while retraining to move into tech or had previously encountered significant barriers to working in tech. Graduates from the route2work academies include:
• A widowed mother of four who was working on the London Underground and teaching herself IT skills to build a career that will enable her to better support her family.
• Another participant was working in a restaurant and used her spare time to learn new programming languages, which allowed her to supplement her income by taking on clients as a freelance website developer.
Route2work Group CEO, Chris Peel, said: “It’s been incredible to see the individuals involved in this programme learn and grow as they’ve taken advantage of the fantastic resources on offer through the Academy. Equipped with a deep understanding of core Microsoft solutions, all our graduates now possess skills that are in high demand across the industry, improving their career prospects as well as contributing to a more diverse talent pool from which organisations can hire.”
NTT data portfolio director Kate Daniels, said: “Bringing in candidates with different life experiences and who have taken varied routes into the industry can only enrich the tech workforce and enhance its capacity for creativity and innovation. Moreover, developing alternative routes into a tech career is an important antidote to the ongoing talent shortage affecting the sector.”
