First wave of HP apprentices to start work this summer

Vendor continues education push with appointment of QA Apprenticeships to fulfil sales and technical training schemes

Training provider QA Apprenticeships has been appointed as the UK's first provider of HP's sales and technical programmes for apprentices.

Part of HP's ExpertOne programme, the Technical Apprenticeship is designed for those looking for roles in areas including first-line or helpdesk support, network support and systems administration. The Sales Apprenticeship is aimed at potential pre-sales or technical sales consultants or infrastructure sales executives.

The first apprentices on the programme will begin work and training in London, the Thames Valley and Leeds this summer, with more intakes planned for the next six months.

Ben Pike, director of QA Apprenticeships, said: "We are very excited to see HP recognise the importance of apprenticeships in boosting the skills of IT workers. The continuing rise of apprenticeships will play a huge part in bringing relevant skills and market growth to the UK's technology sector."

Education and helping create the next generation of IT professionals has been a big focus for HP in recent years, with degrees backed by the vendor launched at a range of universities and partners encouraged to increase the number of graduates they hire.

HP UK and Ireland managing director Nick Wilson said: "The future of HP and the technology industry requires a strong skills pipeline, with studies anticipating 129,000 new IT professional job opportunities every year until 2020.

"The HP ExpertOne apprenticeship programme is one way that HP is addressing the deficit in expertise. Assisting young people, who face increasing competition for jobs, to develop careers in the IT industry is one way that we will build a stronger technology landscape for the future."