Graduate Programme Wales

Graduate Programmes Wales are strategic talent creation initiatives in financial services and data science skills.

Our Graduate Programme’s offer a genuine opportunity for graduates to fast track their career in Financial Services and Data & AI.

Managed by Cnect Wales and delivered in collaboration with leading Welsh-based employers and University partners to ensure the skills all participants develop will make them stand out to employers.

We been delivering our unique rotational and collaborative graduate programmes since 2013 with enviable results. 98% of our graduates have secured permanent roles with some of Wales’ most notable employers.

The programmes are part-funded by the European Social Fund.

Fast Track Data/AI Graduate Programme:

Unique to Wales, this innovative new programme is managed by Cnect Wales and delivered by global employers and with our academic partner, the University of South Wales.

The programme is part funded by the European Social Fund.

Participating employers include  Admiral Group, Atradius, Hodge Bank, LexisNexis RiskSolutions, MotoNovo Finance,  Principality Building Society.

The Fast-Track programme provides an intensive, 8-month programme of work experience, reinforced by applied academic study.

Kicking off with a comprehensive 4-week bootcamp, graduates will gain the ability and confidence to be able to add value from day 1 of their employer placement. By developing knowledge of the fundamentals of Data and AI, and understanding best practice in application and methodologies meaning they’ll be fully equipped ahead of their first placement.

This gives them a unique insight into different business types, cultures and methods of working to develop a fully rounded skill set in data science and enable the graduate to make a more informed choice regarding their future career.

During a placement with one of Wales’ leading employers, graduates will work with colleagues on real-world business problems and projects, gaining invaluable skills and experience.

In addition to the training and career development, participants also study for a fully funded post graduate Diploma in Applied Data/AI, delivered by University of South Wales School of Computing and Mathematics.

The qualification will teach the fundamentals of data, in particular how to understand, interpret, research, and manage complex data.

The Fast-Track Programme has been designed to ensure graduates stay at the forefront of the ever-changing landscape of the data and AI industry, and in turn, provides businesses with the in-demand skills needed to thrive in the sector.

Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme:

Unique to Wales, this innovative programme is managed by Cnect Wales and delivered by global employers and academia. The programme is part funded by the European Social Fund.

Participating employers include Admiral, Atradius, Vauxhall Finance UK plc, Hodge Bank, Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions, Development Bank of Wales, Principality Building Society, Legal & General, Aquis Insurance, Amber Energy, Pepper Money, Empirisys, Idwal Marine, SA Global and Monmouthshire Building Society.

Over two years, the Programme will provide highly valuable work experience through three industry placements rotating across three different participating employers.

Typical job roles include Product Development, Risk, Commercial Account Management, Project Management, Finance, Financial Control, Business Analysis, Research and Marketing.

During these placements, the graduates will be trained and work with team colleagues on real world business problems and projects.

This gives them a unique insight into different business types, cultures and methods of working to develop a fully rounded skill set across financial services and enable the graduate to make a more informed choice regarding their future career.

Since it started in 2013, the programme has recruited over 200 graduates and enabled 98% of graduates to secure permanent roles in their chosen career path and with their chosen employer.

The project is partly funded by the European Social Fund.

If you want to find out more about our programmes, or if you are a business interested in joining the consortium, contact the Programme Team at recruitment@cnectwales.uk