Get paid from day one with our Skills and Learning Academies

Earning and learning needn’t be mutually exclusive. While the prestige and credibility attributed to many degree courses has historically made them a prerequisite for many roles, there’s evidence that employer attitudes towards routes into work are transforming – with apprenticeships at the forefront of this sea change. Common misconceptions – that apprenticeships are badly paid, or only for manual or trade jobs – are being dispelled by the steady rise of skills-based hiring, with skills-based assessments comprising 73% of employers’ hiring processes, according to global research conducted in 2023. 

Apprenticeship schemes not only give people the opportunity to simultaneously work and study, they also have the dual merit of empowering businesses to grow talent from within, while equipping professionals with the specific skills that will enable them to pursue their chosen occupation. 

Our Skills and Learning Academies are specifically designed to meet these aims. They not only supply employers with a pipeline of professionals who possess the skills they need, but provide people – regardless of background, age or experience – with accessible routes into areas that continue to see unprecedented demand for talent, including the digital, technology, business and consulting industries. 

At a glance: fast-track your career at our Skills and Learning Academies

• Earn from day one, plus a £10,000 bonus when you complete the 2-year programme
• Future-proof your skillset to keep pace with the changing world of work
• Benefit from structured learning
• Gain industry-recognised qualifications 
• Enjoy expert mentorship – and networking 

No experience? No worries

We recruit people based on ability, rather than experience, and our goal is to create a learning environment that’s inclusive for everybody. So even if you’ve little to no prior work experience – or have worked in an entirely different field – our academies empower you to explore new and different career opportunities. 

We actively look for people from different backgrounds and professions, taking the view that a workplace that has diverse views and backgrounds will not only translate into ideas, solutions and revenue, but will also help create and fashion future leaders. Our recruitment strategies are uniquely designed to increase diversity within our cohorts:

• CVs are not required: we value your potential much more than your academic or professional background.
• Applications are anonymised: when reviewing applications, we never see your details attached to the answers.
• We don’t ask about your past experience: we ask only three or four future-focused questions as part of our screening process, none of which are based on previous work experience, but purely designed to gauge your core skills.
• We hold a ‘day-in-the-life’: we give you the chance to experience situations you’re likely to face in the role, meaning you get a better idea of the position and whether it’s right for you.

How can our Skills and Learning Academies fast-track your career?

1. Earn from day one

We understand how financially daunting some educational pathways can seem, and know from experience that the cost of learning can often act as a barrier to certain careers, preventing many from fulfilling their potential. From the moment you join one of our Skills and Learning programmes, you’re considered a full-time employee, and accordingly you’ll be rewarded with a salary, holiday pay and all associated benefits. Plus, once you’ve completed the two-year programme, you’ll be rewarded with a £10,000 bonus.

2. Future-proof your skillset

Skillset requirements have changed by around 25% since 2015, with this number expected to double by 2027, according to the LinkedIn Workplace Learning report. As such, demand for ‘skills for life’ – or ‘soft skills’, or ‘core skills’ – has never been greater, while the need for strong digital skills continues to accelerate. 

Our Skills and Learning Academies give people from all backgrounds accessible ways of developing these crucial skills, equipping you with expertise that will not only benefit you in today’s workplace, but enable you to thrive in the future one. 

3. Benefit from structured learning

Our programmes are designed to set you up for success, and each one is structured in the same way:

• Embark on a fully paid, 10-12-week training bootcamp in your chosen industry.
• Onboard with Hays on a two-year, fixed-term contract, throughout which you’ll receive a full salary along with a £10,000 bonus on completion.
• Commence work with a leading organisation and put your hard-earned skills into practice.

While many of the academies are designed specifically for one employer or a small group of them, we also have open programmes in skills areas where many employers are looking for talent, giving you the choice of where to specialise.

4. Gain industry-recognised qualifications

Our learning pathways are built for your needs, and we recognise how important industry-recognised certifications are to your professional development. Everyone joining one of our Skills and Learning Academies can expect to finish with a L4 Business Analyst apprenticeship qualification as standard, with support also provided with any other certifications that are deemed necessary or specific to the nature of the role, such as Prince2 or Scrum.

5. Enjoy expert mentorship 

Whatever your experience, background or qualifications, we’re committed to providing a highly personalised training experience, with mentorships and a supportive community to help you succeed. You can expect a high coach-to-learner ratio, with experts on hand to provide unique coaching opportunities to maximise your development.

Looking to kickstart a new career or accelerate your existing career journey? Join a Hays Skills and Learning Academy.