Melanie Parker, centre, with her recruited graduatesGlobal IT player Mastek, whose clientele includes NHS Digital and the Ministry of Defence, has hired 18 Leeds-based graduates in collaboration with graduate talent firm Graft, as part of a recruitment drive for software engineers in the north of England.
Mastek, whose recent annual results revealed a turnover of £90m, aim to “create and nurture” millennial talent with a new graduate scheme in Leeds. Citing the drive as a “herculean task”, Gordon Cullum, Chief Technology Officer at Mastek, recruited the help of newly-launched Leeds agency Graft, a graduate and career development specialist run by Melanie Parker. Graft’s company ethos is to coach graduates into roles they can thrive in while retaining graduate talent in Yorkshire.
Cullum states, “At our Digital Learning Centre in our Leeds-based HQ on Park Row, Mastek aims to provide an opportunity for the tech innovators of tomorrow to gain key skills that are vital for the continued growth of industry”.
He continues, “Mastek delivers modern technology solutions that improve the lives of millions and we hope this programme will inspire those new to the sector on the true impact their skills can make”.
Rosie Pickersgill, Graduate Lead at Mastek, formerly recruited by Graft, says Melanie Parker’s 25+ years’ industry experience is invaluable. “Graft comes highly recommended and is extremely proactive in its approach to graduate recruitment.”
On the collaboration between the two companies, Melanie Parker said: “Mastek is offering an exciting opportunity for local graduates, committing to three months’ training to develop their skills in software engineering.”
To accompany this large employment of graduate software engineers, Graft and Mastek hosted an assessment day for the candidates on Monday 24 September 2018. Amongst a number of independent and team tasks, Mastek employees engaged in icebreakers with their potential co-workers to get to know them better, as opposed to standard interview processes.
Mastek committed to employing 18 graduates from the day with future plans for more graduate intakes already in hand.
