FAQs
The Application
No, you do not need to have had any formal education in tech. We actively encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our Future Talent Programme. We recommend having done some self-study in your chosen pathway, but our training is designed to upskill those without any previous experience in technology.
No, a degree is not a requirement when applying to the Future Talent Programme.
At Digital Futures, we assess for potential.
Once you have submitted your application, you will be invited to our bespoke online learning platform, Skills, where you can complete our assessment. Our online assessment is in three parts, all of which look for your unique traits, strengths, cognitive capability and aptitude for your chosen pathway through a series of written, mathematical, and Python assessments. If you have never done any Python before, we provide learning resources which will help you complete the coding challenge.
If you are successful, you will be invited for a screening interview with a member of our team before being invited for a final interview with one of our instructors.
No, the interview is conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams.
The Finances
No, we are proud of the fact that our consultants do not pay for any training, professional certifications, or further learning as part of our commitment to creating sustainable employment opportunities.
We make a significant investment in you, and every one of our consultants, so we expect you to finish your training and stay with Digital Futures during your deployment with our clients.
No, but you will be receiving world-class, industry-oriented training completely free of charge, which will set you up for your successful career.
Once you become a permanent employee of Digital Futures your starting salary will be £27,500 per annum. Subject to your performance, your salary will increase to £32,000 per annum in Year 2.
The Terms & Conditions
Unfortunately, not. We require that you have the right-to-work-in-the-UK status, and you are able to evidence it as part of your onboarding into the Future Talent Programme. We are also unable to accept applications from people who are still in the process of applying for a visa and we are unable to sponsor Tier 2 visas.
No, unfortunately not. In accordance with Home Office guidance, if your application is successful you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK via one of the following documents: UK Passport, EU Settlement Scheme or Indefinite leave to remain. We are unfortunately unable to offer roles to applicants with the Graduate Visa, Student Visa (Tier 4) or Skilled Worker Visa (Tier 2). Therefore, you must be able to demonstrate your right to work in the UK without the need for Digital Futures sponsorship.
We understand that sometimes big decisions are hard to make, which is why we give you 15 working days from the start of the training to notify us of your intent to leave the programme. Following this, you might be required to pay an exit fee equivalent to the cost of training for the 12 weeks. The requirement to pay back fees only applies to the training contract and is not part of your employment contract.
We are really proud to have an ethical retention policy and therefore you will not be subject to an exit fee should you choose to leave once you are working full time for Digital Futures as a consultant. You will be on a six-month notice period, as per the expectations of our clients.
Once you become an employee of Digital Futures you will be entitled to the following benefits:
- Statutory pension contributions
- 28 days annual leave, including bank holidays
- Specsavers VDU eye test voucher
- Discounted shopping cards, vouchers & e-vouchers
- Percentage discounts & savings on brands online & in store
- Cashback – get paid to shop online at your favourite brands
- Concierge service – travel & tickets
- Doctorline – GP access & prescription service
- Employee Assistance Programme – legal advice & counselling service
The Training
Digital Futures is a technology services company. On our Future Talent Programme, we train all our consultants in technical disciplines and those who graduate from our Academy and are deployed into roles with our clients become employees of Digital Futures. All of our training is delivered by industry accredited trainers, and you will receive the relevant professional accreditations aligned to each pathway.
There will be no requirement for you to complete any pre-work ahead of the Academy, but you will be provided with resources which we would strongly encourage you to use to help prepare for the Academy.
You should think of attending our Academy as a full-time job. Training runs for a minimum of 12 weeks and is delivered during normal business hours (9am-5pm).
Our training is delivered remotely via Zoom, but all teaching is done live with your instructors and fellow cohort members. There will be two days during the Academy where you will be invited alongside your cohort to London. The first will be at the end of the third week of your training where you’ll join us at the Digital Futures office. On the second occasion, you’ll be invited to join us at the IBM Office in London for a field trip. If you live outside of Greater London, your travel expenses will be covered by Digital Futures for this event.
There may be other occasions where you are asked to come into our London offices, in which case we will cover your travel expenses if you live outside of Greater London.
No, it is not possible to do another course whilst enrolled at the Digital Futures Academy. Due to the intensity of the training and the time commitment, you will be short of spare time to allocate to another course.
Anyone who is accepted into our Future Talent Programme is expected to have their own laptop for the Academy. In some instances, we will provide a laptop to those with extenuating circumstances.
We have had a large number of consultants graduate from our Academy on all pathways with little or no coding experience. The content is difficult, and you will need to work hard to build the knowledge quickly, but it is possible to start with zero experience and successfully graduate. An understanding of the basics of Python is highly recommended.
No, this is not possible due to the structure of our immersive training programmes. We will make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for religious holidays and family emergencies.
There are three steps you must complete to graduate.
- You must demonstrate your technical proficiency by successfully passing the relevant certification
- You must complete all challenges and projects during training, to the satisfaction of your instructor
- You must also demonstrate your professional development by successfully completing a competency interview
At the end of your training period, you will work towards your graduation. To become eligible for deployment, you must have graduated from the Digital Futures Academy. You will be expected to graduate within 4-weeks of completing the training. Once you have graduated from the Academy, we will work together with you to secure your deployment.
You will be expected to continue upskilling and to be available for client interviews during this time.
No, it can take a number of weeks after you complete your training. Once you have graduated, you will enter the pre-deployment period, which can last up to six weeks. During this time, you will be interviewed by your client organisation in order to secure your deployment. Once your deployment has been secured, you will be offered an employment contract with Digital Futures and you will start your role as a consultant with one of our clients.
If we have not secured a role for you within the six-week pre-deployment period, you are free to seek employment outside of Digital Futures.
Deployment
No, deployment is not guaranteed. To become eligible to be deployed, you must firstly successfully complete all graduation criteria. We will then work with you to secure your deployment, the timing of which is dependent on the demand from our clients. There may be instances when the timing of client demand and the graduation cycle from our Academy are not perfectly aligned. If there is a delay, you will continue to be supported to further your learning and development in readiness for deployment.
You are likely to be deployed for a minimum of 18 months.
Our clients are some of the most innovative companies in the consulting, financial services, media and telecoms, public services, and retail industries. All of our clients are selected on the basis of their alignment with Digital Futures culture and values.
Our clients operate nationwide, specifically in London, Stevenage, Leeds, Sheffield, York, Birmingham or Bristol. You must be able to commute or relocate to one of these locations for your deployment.
Please note that for our deployment opportunities in Stevenage, you must live within a 20-mile radius to be eligible for the programme.
As part of our commitment to creating opportunity, Digital Futures offers a comprehensive relocation policy. This includes up to £2500 split across travel costs and accommodation support.
No, you will not always be able to choose the organisation you are placed with. However, we will always aim to match your skills and capabilities to the appropriate organisation, and we take into consideration your long-term career aspirations as well as location and industry preferences.
Some of our consultants have already been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to travel within the UK during their deployment. Should you need to travel as part of your work, your expenses will be covered by Digital Futures.
Throughout your deployment, you will have direct access to a Delivery Manager who will oversee your development and provide continuous technical and pastoral support. You will also have access to the whole Digital Futures team, all of whom have an open-door policy and you will also be invited to take part in our company-wide CSR and social events.
Yes, probably. Whilst this does depend on client demand, so far, most of our consultants have been deployed with at least one other member of their cohort.
Many of our consultants have been given full-time employment offers by the client they have been working with. However, this is not guaranteed.
If you do not convert to full-time employment, there are other options. Firstly, you may have the opportunity to extend your deployment. Secondly, you can seek a rotation to a new organisation as a Digital Futures consultant with two years’ worth of experience. Finally, you can choose to end your employment with us and seek your own role.