IBM UK Ltd
A major player in the UK tech scene for decades, IBM UK offers a wide range of services, from cloud computing and artificial intelligence to consulting and cybersecurity. They employ thousands of people across the country, helping businesses innovate and navigate the ever-changing tech landscape.
Years awarded: 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Region: UK-wide
Size: 1000+ employees
Sector: Technology
Building a diverse, client-ready technical workforce
Theme: Apprenticeships
This IT service management organisation has continued to grow a successful in-house technical apprenticeship programme which provides client ready and revenue generating apprentices. The programme’s return on investment is evidenced through billable fees that cover the cost of the apprentice three times over and a retention rate of 95% of former and current apprentices. With 25% BAME apprentices compared to 6% in 2017 and 41% females compared to 33%, a more diverse workforce is also being established.
Recruiting, developing and retaining talent
Themes: Apprenticeships; Onboarding
Topics: Work experience, internships, graduate programmes; BAME focus
IBM UK established their Early Professionals (EP) Programme to facilitate skills development for EPs, leading to enhanced business performance. After achieving an Award in 2019, this programme has progressed, resulting in 100% success rates for Apprenticeships, savings of over £60k on recruitment costs, an Ofsted rating of Outstanding in December 2021 and the re-hiring rate for interns increasing from 35% to 93%.
Skilling interns to create the future workforce
Theme: Onboarding
Topics: Work experience, internships, graduate programmes; BAME focus
Against the backdrop of a well-documented skills gap in the tech industry, coupled with the changing nature of the tech skills required, this global leader relies on its intern programme. 3,500 interns have been trained since 2008 and the company has committed to extend the programme to 120 new interns annually for the next 5 years. Through this programme the business is addressing a fundamental strategic need and creating a skilled future workforce.
Becoming an Apprenticeship Employer Provider
Theme: Apprenticeships
This global technology company decided to become an Apprenticeship Employer Provider with the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy. This move allowed IBM to further strengthen its programme and achievement rates of apprentices are exemplary and include a 100% pass rate through End Point Assessment and a 95% retention rate since 2017.
Creating top class employees
Theme: Onboarding
Topic: Work experience, internships, graduate programmes
This global technology business believes that continuous skills development is critical in providing a valued service to its clients. Dedicated development managers provide tailored support to Early Professionals and the ‘ladder of opportunity’ in place offers training from trainee through to graduate level and beyond creating top class client facing, professional employees from the outset.
Investing in young professionals
Themes: Apprenticeships; Onboarding
Topic: Work experience, internships, graduate programmes
An example of how a global technology company has established a UK Foundation programme to train new hires across student, apprentice and graduate schemes. Trainees are seen as invaluable to the business offering solutions to help IBM stay ahead of its competitors.
News and case studies featuring IBM:
Celebrating the very best training and development programmes in the UK and Ireland
Last week, 53 recipients from the UK and Ireland were warmly welcomed to St James’s Palace, in London, to receive their Princess Royal Training Award from Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal. Now in their eighth year, the Princess Royal Training Awards were set...
53 Princess Royal Training Awards across UK and Ireland for achieving positive impact through skills development
HRH The Princess Royal, President of the City and Guilds of London Institute, has approved 53 Awards to a range of organisations across the UK and Ireland, for their outstanding training and skills development programmes, all of which have shown a significant...
Celebrating 46 UK organisations who have outstanding workplace training programmes with HRH The Princess Royal
London, Thursday 8th December: On Tuesday 6th December, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, welcomed 46 organisations to Banqueting House in London to celebrate successfully achieving a Princess Royal Training Award for their commitment to training and...
Outstanding workplace training programmes recognised in HRH The Princess Royal’s training awards
HRH The Princess Royal, President of City & Guilds, awards employers with outstanding training and skills development programmes which have been proven to have significant positive impact on their business or their staff More apprenticeship programmes have been...
48 recipients celebrate the Princess Royal Training Awards with HRH Princess Anne
On Thursday 28th April, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, welcomed 48 recipients to Mansion House in London to celebrate them receiving Princess Royal Training Awards for their commitment to training and development in 2021. Currently in its sixth year, The...
Case study: how IBM recruits a diverse workforce
In this video, IBM Foundation Managers Joel Thomas and Kelly Markwick talk about how IBM are actively recruiting a diverse workforce. IBM achieved a Princess Royal Training Award in 2021.
Case study: what achieving an Award means for IBM
In this video IBM Foundation Managers Joel Thomas and Kelly Markwick talk some of the benefits of achieving a 2021 Princess Royal Training Award for their intern programme.
Case study: helping bring out the best in learners at IBM
All the recent change to the way we work makes it more challenging for new recruits and interns to reach their potential. Here I share how IBM improved their intern programme to help bring out the best in learners and make them as ‘self-sufficient’ as possible,...
46 businesses across the UK recognised by HRH The Princess Royal for excellence in training and development in 2021
HRH The Princess Royal, President of City & Guilds, awards employers who have created outstanding training and skills development programmes which have resulted in measurable business impact over the last 12 months Recipients include those that...
Celebrating the Award class of 2020
On 15 December, we celebrated the innovative training and development successes of the 43 recipients who achieved a Princess Royal Training Award in 2020. By necessity the ceremony was a little different this year. Whilst it needed to take place virtually rather...
