[Monday 27 September, London] Robert Half, one of the world’s largest specialist recruitment firms, today announces its collaboration with AWS re/Start to help place graduates into entry-level cloud roles in the UK. AWS re/Start is part of Amazon’s efforts to help 29 million people globally grow their cloud computing skills by 2025.

AWS re/Start is a free, 12-week, full-time skills development programme, that prepares unemployed, underemployed and underrepresented individuals for entry-level cloud positions while addressing some of businesses’ most prevalent skills shortages.

With the support of professional mentors and accredited instructors, AWS re/Start learners build programming, networking, security, and relational database skills through real-world-scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework. The programme also prepares and covers the cost for participants to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, validating their cloud skills with an industry-recognised credential.

Tom Golding, Vice President – Strategic Accounts at Robert Half, said: “Cloud computing skills have long been in short supply, and training through the AWS re/Start programme is an excellent way to ensure that businesses can access the skills they need from a wider pool of diverse talent, while creating new opportunities for people from underrepresented groups. Using the insights of our expert recruiters, we can equip graduates with more of the soft skills and knowledge they need as they embark on the first steps of their IT career.”

As part of its role in the programme as a placement organisation, Robert Half will provide all graduates in the United Kingdom with access to its e-learning facility, which includes a wide range of additional training courses from technical IT skills to general business and wellbeing topics.

Each cohort in the UK will gain additional career readiness preparation guidance and advice on managing their personal brands from the Robert Half team. A series of dedicated webinars will also be available, designed to equip graduates with additional soft skills and knowledge designed to help them integrate flawlessly into a working environment.

Robert Half’s dedicated team of tech recruitment experts will also help to place UK-based AWS re/Start graduates in their first cloud computing roles, ensuring that each cohort is able to use their new skills and knowledge.

To ensure the programme’s sustainability, Robert Half will also be passing back 25 per cent of the fees secured from businesses by placing AWS re/Start graduates to the delivery collaborating organisations, to ensure that more training opportunities can be offered to more people.

Tom Golding added: “Diversity is a cornerstone of the Robert Half business, embedded in our DNA by our founder more than half a century ago. Being involved with AWS re/Start is the right thing both for the businesses we work with and for the people it supports.”

More information on Robert Half’s collaboration with AWS re/Start is available here.

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