As we all work to stop the spread of Covid-19, mobilising teams to implement our remote working action plan has been key. Two weeks into Lockdown and we were working online, delivering our services remotely and all getting very familiar with the settings in Microsoft Teams!
As tech training and recruitment specialists, we are lucky that we have a range of remote platforms and use a blended delivery model already across a number of products. It has, however, still been massively impressive to see how quickly we have transitioned to fully remote working in such a short timeframe.
Delivering Great Service Remotely
It’s been impressive to see how our recruitment team has been interviewing new candidates via video conference and retaining the level of engagement important when getting the best out of the interview experience. Candidates and clients have really been appreciative that we have kept the momentum with their hiring process.
Our Training division have been able to implement Microsoft Teams into the Job Guarantee interviews we offer as part of our Network Professional and Developer training programmes. MS Teams, along with utilising Docusign, has meant they can continue to start learners on our training courses – kicking off their journey into a career in tech.
We can now deliver 100% of our apprenticeship onboarding activities through live online platforms, and use digital transaction management platforms, to share and sign the documentation associated and required to enrol learners. To date, we have onboarded nearly 90 candidates during the Covid-19 lockdown period – an impressive effort from our Service Delivery team.
Recreating Classroom Learning Virtually
The measures we have taken are designed to keep all of our learners progressing on their apprenticeship and to maintain the value employers are getting from the programme.
Our trainers and business coaches all have experience in delivering online teaching sessions, so have been able to recreate the in-classroom experience remotely very successfully. Now they are supported by the additional online resources, they maintain the high level of learner engagement we saw prior to the changes to fully remote processes.
To further support apprentices we are providing full data visibility to coaches and line managers, keeping everyone connected and minimising disruption. An example of this is our web-based Learning Management Systems (Learning Assistant) which records a learners progress and makes this information accessible to managers through the employer dashboard.
Support, Support & More Support
Apprentices have all been contacted by their Just IT business coaches and given individual guidance on next steps to be taken over this lockdown period. This has allowed our coaches to tailor support during the transition to fully remote working. This one-to-one approach allows apprentices to get set up to work from home correctly with clear expectations and access to support.
The one-to-one approach has been replicated across our business, with our account managers having regular calls and video calls with clients. The focus is truly on being there for clients with advice and support on how they can retain apprentices, onboard new staff and continue to deliver the training they want during this uniquely challenging time.
We Are Here to Help
These are uncertain times for all of us, but we believe we can still help candidates and clients alike.
There are challenges ahead, but also opportunities and we are doing our best to advise our clients on how they can be well-positioned to maximise their bounce-back opportunity when we start to see lockdown measures relaxed.
Ultimately, we will see the UK open for business again, and this as ever, will mean a demand for talented people across IT and Tech. We look forward positively and hope to see you all safe and well in a post-pandemic world.
For updates, advise and support from our team of experts please just email hello@justit.co.uk we are here to help.