Reimaging the development of Visa's early careers talent
Since June 2023, Visa Europe has revolutionised early talent training, working in partnership with Corndel College London (CCL) to launch the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. This innovative programme cultivates and empowers the next generation of innovators and leaders within the digital payments sector.
“I didn’t want to go to uni full-time because I had already gained financial independence, and I wanted to avoid student debt—a degree apprenticeship was the best option".
Watch the case study: Sikandar Asad, Visa Europe
Visa reimagines early talent development
We visited Visa’s London office to fully capture the transformative impact of these degree apprenticeships. We met with apprentices, their managers, and the early careers leader. Their insights revealed a significant departure from traditional graduate training routes.
The degree apprenticeship at Visa is a powerful blend of on-the-job experience, academic learning, structured mentorship, and industry-recognised qualifications upon completion. This programme is built to propel graduates into leadership roles within the fast-paced world of digital payments and is a blueprint for the future of early talent development.
Sikander Asad’s journey at Visa Europe highlights the impact of academic rigour and practical application in the workplace, a hallmark of Visa’s degree apprenticeship programme. Opting for this path to maintain his financial independence and secure an industry-recognised degree, Sikander has navigated the dual demands of work and study. “I didn’t want to go to uni full-time because I had already gained financial independence, and I wanted to avoid student debt—a degree apprenticeship was the best option,” he explains.
Sikander is at the forefront of AI consulting at Visa. This project, the first of its kind at Visa, allows him the freedom to innovate and lay down the groundwork for future AI endeavours within the business. “It’s very much discovery-focused and exploratory,” he describes. He strongly advocates for the degree apprenticeship route over traditional university pathways, stating, “I think at the end of the day, applying what you’ve learned in a practical environment will always prove much more beneficial than just theory-based learning in a classroom setting.”
Success without the wait
We’ve partnered with over 400 enterprise organisations, and tens of thousands of people within them. Here’s just a snapshot of their stories, showing what’s possible when you give people everything they need to thrive.
