Thousands of staff at IT services company Capgemini have
been given the opportunity to learn new skills that could help them
change careers.
Capgemini, which has contracts with organisations including
British Steel, HM Revenue & Customs and the Ministry of
Defence, has introduced competency models to help staff manage
their careers.
The system, which Capgemini said has improved staff morale,
could act as a template for other large employers.
Staff can use the competency models to plan a change of career
within the firm. The models show the interpersonal skills and the
certified IT skills that are required for each role.
Capgemini said it encourages staff to direct their own careers.
It expects them to progress through its own internal certification
scheme in addition to gaining external skills certificates.
The competency models rank skills from level one for graduate
trainees to level four for highly experienced staff. Senior IT
roles at Capgemini require certification to the maximum level of
skill.
Capgemini employee development manager Jim Moore said, "We
define what we would expect people to know. Then we have training
programmes related to each of those stages."
As Capgemini provides services to many organisations in
different sectors, employees often find they are free to move to a
part of the business where their skills objectives will be met.
HR director Louise Hawkins said, "If someone is interested in
moving, they could facilitate a meeting with someone who works in
their area of interest."