Microsoftazure2017

Firebrand launch new Microsoft Azure Apprenticeships!

Firebrand Training wheel
Sarah Morgan
09 March, 2017

The use of Cloud technology is rapidly increasing but businesses across the UK are failing to progress their cloud projects because of a lack of skilled Azure professionals.

“Today 80% of our customers have already deployed or fully embraced the cloud – by 2020, the idea that a company has ‘no cloud’ would be as rare as a ‘no internet’ policy is today,” says Gavriella Schuster, Corporate VP of Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Group.

Despite the rapid uptake of cloud technology, the industry is experiencing a massive skills shortage. Azure skills were the hardest to source, according to a 2016 study of Microsoft Partners from Curotalent.

Microsoft is committed to closing the skills gap with their pledge to create 30,000 new Digital Apprenticeship roles by 2020. As part of this, and in time for the imminent arrival of the Apprenticeship Levy, Firebrand have launched four new accelerated Azure Apprenticeships.

“We’ve developed these accelerated Azure Apprenticeships to reflect the knowledge and skills demanded by UK businesses.

“We’re excited to see these Apprenticeships shape and develop Azure skills for the next generation of IT professionals," says Stefano Capaldo, Firebrand’s Managing Director.

Built by Firebrand in partnership with Microsoft, these new Azure Apprenticeships are the first of their kind to align to existing national Apprenticeship standards. Each Apprenticeship also includes £10,000s of accelerated Microsoft Azure training and certification.

How to get new Azure skills in your organisation, fast!

Four new Azure programmes, built around in-demand job roles and designed by industry trailblazers, are now available to employers and apprentices.

1. Azure Infrastructure Technician

Azure Infrastructure Technicians learn to support internal and external customers by resolving virtual and on-premise queries. Apprentices will also study virtual machine (VM) administration.

Accelerated training includes:

Apprentices on this programme will develop into your next helpdesk technician, infrastructure technician or Azure network support professional.

2. Azure Software Developer

Azure Software Developers learn to design, build and test Azure solutions and applications. These apprentices will also learn how to build and host application infrastructure in Azure.

As well as official Microsoft Azure courses, accelerated training includes:

This programme will teach apprentices how to become an Azure mobile/application/systems/web developer.

3. Azure Cyber Security Technologist

Azure Cyber Security Technologists will use their specialist cloud knowledge to identify cyber threats and risks to organisations and people. Azure Cyber Security Technologists will also specialise in cloud platform and infrastructure security.

As well as official Microsoft Azure courses, accelerated training includes:

Typical job roles for apprentices on this programme include Cloud Security Architect, Cyber Operations Manager, Penetration Tester, and Security Engineer.

4. Azure Network Engineer

Azure Network Engineers focus on virtual networks whilst learning how to design, install and support communications within an organisation. Azure Network Engineers will become experts in network configuration and administration.

As well as official Microsoft Azure courses, accelerated training includes:

Apprentices on this programme will develop into network technicians, network administrators and systems engineers.

Are you planning for the Apprenticeship Levy?

With the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in April 2017, all businesses in the UK are now hugely incentivised to hire apprentices.

The Levy will change the way Apprenticeships are funded. Here are three things employers need to know:

  1. Employers with a UK wage bill of over £3 million will pay the monthly levy
  2. Levy payments will be 0.5% of their annual pay bill
  3. Employers will control payments in a digital account where funds can be spent on apprenticeship training
  4. Non-levied employers will only pay 10% of the cost of apprenticeships, government will pay the remainder

Interested?

For the past twelve years in a row, we’ve been named one of the Top 20 IT Training Companies in the World. We offer accelerated certification courses, Apprenticeships, and Skills Bootcamps to help your team get certified in half the time. Perhaps one of them is right for you?