FDM

FDM Group is an international IT services provider and the UK's leading employer of IT graduates. The FDM Graduate Programme trains graduates to a professional level, in readiness for their careers as IT consultants.

Once the training is complete, FDM consultants are placed on one or more client sites for a minimum of two years.

Kick-starting careers in IT consultancy: course development

In 2011, FDM developed an MSc in Applied Computer Science in partnership with the University of Brighton and welcomed its first group of students onto the FDM Master Class Programme.

This programme involves an extra year's commitment beyond the traditional FDM Graduate Programme.

The course was designed in collaboration with the university, and as part of the development of course, students no longer have a fixed start date, offering them flexibility to start the three-year course at any point in the year.

FDM Consultants are selected for the qualification and offered the opportunity to undertake the MSc based on their skills and drive to achieve and all tuition costs are covered by the company.

Alex Linssen, MSc Programme Co-ordinator at FDM, said:

"The course helps us attract high-calibre graduates as they can further their careers as well as gaining practical skills."

Chosen candidates work full-time for FDM whilst studying part-time and working on a dissertation project, which is relevant to their placement.

As a result of the development of the MSc in Applied Computer Science, FDM have reported a high level of enquiries from new graduates.

Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer at FDM and University of Brighton graduate, said:

"This partnership is hugely exciting for both the university and FDM. We are passionate about training graduates to kick-start their careers as emerging IT Consultants."

Christopher Fouda, FDM