SAP revolutionising early talent development

SAP revolutionising early talent development

We visited SAP’s London office to meet with apprentices, their managers, and the early careers leaders. Their insights revealed a significant departure from traditional graduate training routes. The programme at SAP is a powerful blend of on-the-job experience, academic learning, structured mentorship, and industry-recognised qualifications. This programme is built to propel graduates into leadership roles within the fast-paced world of software and technology and is a blueprint for the future of early talent development.

We spoke with Vithusana Thanenthiran, SAP

For Vithusana Thanenthiran, a Technology Consultant Apprentice at SAP, the degree apprenticeship route offered the perfect balance of learning and industry experience. “I knew the university route wasn’t for me—I wanted to gain real-world expertise while earning.”

Since joining SAP, she has supported cloud delivery managers in enhancing customer satisfaction and strengthening her communication and problem-solving skills. “A project that I was excited about was helping a group of cloud delivery managers maintain their customer excellence and ensure they’re able to provide satisfaction to their customers.”

One of her most significant milestones has been developing her presentation skills. “I’ve had amazing opportunities to present at SAP. Earlier in the year, I was able to present to a large group of people about bringing authenticity to the workplace. And that was through joining the Business Women’s Network at SAP.”

Lindsey Rowe, Head of Strategic Programmes at SAP, highlights the value of apprenticeships in bridging education and industry. “We have over 80 learners on programmes with Corndel and growing. Corndel, are the most patient providers out there to help us with it, but also educate us on all the different things that change, the things you need to consider.”

We spoke with Jermaine Dallas, SAP

For Jermaine Dallas, choosing a degree apprenticeship over the traditional university route was a strategic decision to prioritise hands-on experience. Now a Technology Associate at SAP, Jermaine says, “What attracted me to a degree apprenticeship rather than the university route is the hands-on experience… in the job market, there’s a lot more value placed on real-life application of skills. That’s something I knew I wanted for my career journey.”

Jermaine’s role spans diverse projects, including live delivery engagements with customers using SAP’s cutting-edge software solutions. His favourite? “The onboarding process with a customer and the internal team at SAP. As part of my role, I helped bring those two sides together. It taught me so much about communicating effectively and proactively helping my team and the customer—it’s just as important.” Beyond technical skills, Jermaine highlights the programme’s impact on his personal growth. “Before this apprenticeship, I was quite a shy person. But going through this experience—talking to stakeholders internally or on the customer side—you naturally build confidence.”

Mark Griffiths, Senior Manager in Partner Success Services, sees the value apprentices bring. “They work with senior colleagues who have been in the business for 10 or 20 years. It’s a cultural shift, but it brings diversity and fresh perspectives.”

As Jermaine sets his sights on a career in supply chain management, he exemplifies the transformative power of apprenticeship programmes in unlocking professional and personal potential. His advice for future apprentices: “Be eager to learn. There’s always someone ready to help you on your journey.”

We spoke with Tom Meech, SAP

For Tom Meech, a degree apprenticeship was the perfect alternative to university. “I went through about 130 applications, and SAP was the one that just clicked for me.” Now a year in, Tom thrives in a role that helps businesses understand SAP’s software. Tom is thriving in his role, “I’ve been here just over a year now, and I love it. The challenges we’re typically involved in as free sales consultants is showing the customer how to use the software to help improve their business. We demo things like SAP SuccessFactors, AI asset maintenance, and an AI shop assistant.”

For Lindsey Rowe, Head of Strategic Programmes at SAP, apprenticeships are key to SAP’s early careers strategy. “Regardless of someone’s journey, they should be able to get into tech—whether through university or an apprenticeship.”

Carl Streatfield, Head of SAP Innovation Labs (UKI), highlights the value of apprentices. “We treat them like full-time employees, not just apprentices. They start small, but soon, they’re running independent projects and developing broader expertise in areas like HR, finance, or procurement.”

Tom’s advice? “Stay curious, ask loads of questions. There’s so much to learn, and you can’t know it all in the first week.”

We spoke with Karan Sian

Karan’s journey into SAP’s degree apprenticeship programme began with his love for technology, which developed during his GCSEs. “What really attracted me to the programme was that you come out of it with a degree fully funded, plus three years of experience at a major company like SAP,” he explains. “You get to work with experts in the field and build connections—not just on LinkedIn but in person—which is so helpful for future prospects.”

One of the most valuable skills Karan has gained is creating business-ready presentations. “When I finished my A-Levels, I didn’t really know how to make presentations for a business audience,” he says. “Now, I’ve learned about confidentiality, avoiding too much text, and making things visually appealing. It’s been one of my most important skills, especially because I’m very customer-focused and do a lot of presenting.”

Karan’s work has already made an impact. He contributed to a project where SAP’s expense management software, Concur, was reimagined in a virtual reality space called Drift Space. “I presented it to UKI and global leaders, and learning the new software and how to bring everything they needed into the VR world was one of the most impactful things I’ve done so far,” he shares. Another significant project involved integrating generative AI into SAP’s demos for asset maintenance.

Carl Streatfield, Head of SAP Innovation Labs (UKI), highlights the value of the degree apprenticeship programme, “As an employer, we value the degree they earn just as much as a traditional full-time one, and the three years of experience they gain gives them an edge.”

We spoke with Khalid Maalim

Khalid Maalim’s journey at SAP illustrates the powerful blend of academic learning and hands-on experience offered by degree apprenticeships. He applied his new knowledge directly to his projects. “I noticed an impact in my performance since being on the programme,” he explains. When I worked on an analytics project, concepts from my data analysis coursework came to life, giving me a strong foundation to tackle challenges effectively.”

Mentorship has been a cornerstone of his growth. With guidance from his Professional Development Expert, Khalid has learned to approach challenges methodically. “Even yesterday, we tackled a module together step by step, which gave me a clearer understanding of the task. You don’t climb a mountain in a day; you climb it step by step.”

Lindsey Rowe, Head of Strategic Programmes at SAP, highlights the broader organisational benefits. “When I think about the business impact of degree apprenticeships, it’s been a year since our launch… and in that time, the impact is massive. We never expected them to actually lead and own projects so early on into their careers.”

SAP’s Digital Leadership Accelerator programme creates opportunities to develop talent and drive growth. Khalid wholeheartedly endorses the experience: For Khalid, the programme has been a transformative experience. “I’d recommend a degree apprenticeship to anyone. I think it’s a great way to break into whatever field you’re looking at.