Recently I set up a talent enhancement programme called FP Academy. It provides high-quality, comprehensive ongoing professional development for employees. Among other things, our software developers can update their programming language skills, try out new open source initiatives and learn new team-working techniques. But it is not just for developers, it is for all staff. And it is not just for staff, it is also for students studying computer science and engineering. They will get a taste of what the IT industry really is like. Why, you might ask, would an offshore software development company create a training scheme for students across Poland?

Well, for me at any rate, the answer is simple.  The Polish IT outsourcing market is growing rapidly and I expect it will continue to grow for several years. This means the whole industry needs to attract more talent. However this requirement needs to be balanced with the fact that the Polish outsourcing industry’s reputation is based on quality. We cannot lose sight of this as we grow. Therefore ensuring  new talent coming into the industry understands what is required of them, understands how software houses and outsourcing operations work and have more than just a basic level of skills is vital. When I started my first job as a developer in a software firm, I had a real shock. I thought I was a pretty good – after all I had created lots of programmes in my spare time.

Of course I wasn’t as great as I thought and had lots to learn. I hope the FP Academy will mean that working in IT is less of a shock for today’s students and that they have less to learn when they start.