Leading IT consultancy CHP Consulting looks for the best candidates - and aims to keep them by treating them well, says one graduate.
One of the leading IT consultancies in the UK, CHP Consulting operates across the nation and overseas. Their unique ALFA system is a software platform for asset finance and automotive finance organisations, with support and implementation services provided by consultants focused on meeting each company's individual needs.
CHP's Junior Consultant graduate programme aims to attract the best graduates from all backgrounds and give them the necessary support to develop within the company-even if they don't have previous technical experience.
Will Twyman, a Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Bristol, joined the company with no training in coding or development. He was drawn to the programme because of the opportunity CHP offered to build his technical skills.
"I looked at various consultancy firms and CHP really stood out," he says. "In addition to the soft skills that can propel you into a career as a successful consultant, they also train you up with the technical skills."
Will thinks this training gives graduates an excellent foundation for their careers.
"Ultimately, the world moving the way it is, technology is becoming more integral to the way we work," he says. "So to have the chance to develop these skills starting out as a complete beginner is really valuable - and unique to CHP."
Will was not the only one in his intake group without any experience coding. Out of six graduates, only one had done coding before. They all learned together and supported one another - much better than being surrounded by experts, Will says.
"Because it was new to all of us there was very much as sense of 'we're all in it together', so when some people understood concepts and others in the group didn't, it created a collaborative way of learning," he says.
"We all learned together, shared knowledge and made sure we moved forward at roughly a similar pace. Naturally some progressed quicker than others, but at no point did that ever become a problem."
Once graduates on the programme complete their technical training, they move on to work on real and significant projects. Will joined the company in March 2015 and is already enjoying the travelling and responsibility which come with his role.
"I'm currently working on a project for a bank operating in Northern Europe, and it is interesting because the project is split across four Nordic countries," he says.
"This introduces a range of harmonisation challenges such as there being multiple languages, currencies and accountancy standards across the four countries. It's an interesting process of implementing one software package across different nations."
The opportunities to work internationally are not limited to Europe. Will says CHP also do a lot of work across the Atlantic.
"With CHP there are loads of opportunities abroad and especially in the U.S., so there is a strong push for junior developers to work out there for a year or two years."
International travel is part of life at CHP, but it's not always work when employees go abroad - the firm organises annual conferences and team building activities as well. This year, CHP is taking over 200 employees to Miami for a company review, while quarterly conferences with activities like go-karting and dragon boat racing are common.
Will says employees are treated well at CHP, and enjoy a close working environment - in part because of the company's selective recruitment.
"CHP hire a very particular type of person," he explains. "They say during the interview process, in addition to all the academic qualifications, what they are really looking for are people they can work with and get on with on a day-to-day basis."
"This ethos has allowed CHP to be filled with people who are good to work with, and good to be around."
In addition to travel perks and a close-knit team, CHP's Junior Consultant scheme comes with a higher than average salary. But that doesn't mean graduates are expected to work late into the night, Will says.
"When you look at the job specification and you put the salary alongside the working hours there is a sense of 'is this too good to be true?' - but it's because the company expects employees to be focused and committed during the hours they are in work, rather than to come in for long hours."
"What it boils down to is that CHP want the best people to move the company forward and that means treating them well."