Source Apprentices Provider Provision
Identifying and coordinating with a high‑quality apprenticeship training provider to ensure the programme structure, standards and off‑the‑job training aligned with LGPS Central’s needs, and that candidates understood the full training andqualification pathway.
CASE STUDIES
School Leaver Apprenticeships
LGPS Central
Project overview
LGPS Central partnered with Acrobat Talent to designand deliver its first apprenticeship intake, supporting the organisation’s ambition to grow its own future investment and business professionals in astructured, inclusive way. The project covered the full early careers lifecycle: attraction, screening, manager/mentor preparation and a bespoke assessment centre, resulting in high‑quality hires aligned to LGPS Central’s values and long‑term talent strategy.
The Challenge
LGPS Central wanted to launch a brand‑new apprenticeship offering that would:
- Attract diverse, high‑potential candidates into specialist finance and business roles, despite relatively low employer brand awareness among school leavers
- Manage the complexity and workload of an end to end campaign without overstretching a small internal HR and recruitment team
- Give hiring managersand mentors confidence to support apprentices effectively from day one, many ofthem working with apprentices for the first time
They needed a partner who could bring early careers expertise, process design and hands on delivery, while acting as an extension of their internal team.
The Solution
Acrobat Talent worked closely with LGPS Central to design a joined‑up apprenticeship campaign from strategy through to offer stage. Key elements included:
Attraction and messaging
Developing clear, candidate‑friendly role profiles (e.g. Finance Apprentice – Level 4) and promotional content that showcased LGPS Central’s purpose, culture and development offer.
Screening and shortlisting
Managing applications, objective screening and structured shortlist recommendations to ensure only strong, values‑aligned candidates progressed.
Assessment centre design and delivery
The team built and facilitated a tailored assessment centres, combining competence‑based interviews, group exercises and role‑relevant tasks to assess both potential and cultural fit.
Manager and mentor briefing session
Acrobat led a live session for hiring managers and mentors to set expectations, share best practice on supporting apprentices, and align everyone on selection criteriaand candidate experience.
Throughout, Acrobat acted as an embedded partner,providing regular updates, insight and advice so the LGPS Central team feltsupported and in control.
The Result
The campaign delivered a high‑quality first intake of apprentices, giving LGPS Central confidence in its early careers strategy and in the calibre of future talent joining the business. Managers and mentors reported feeling better prepared tosupport apprentices, and the internal team were able to run a complex campaignwithout adding significant operational strain.
Assessment Day Gallery
"Working with Acrobat Talent has been an outstanding experience from start to finish.
Acrobat managed everything end to end - attraction, screening and a brilliantly run assessment centre - with 100% attendance on assessment day.
The calibre of candidates was outstanding. What really set them apart was the support beyond the hire: the session they delivered for our managers and mentors ahead of the apprentices joining set exactly the right tone. We couldn't have done it without them."
Shoaib Hassan
People Operations and Experience Manager
LGPS Central
Project Statistics
705
Applications Screened
80
Telephone Interviews
20
Candidates invited to 2 Assessment Days
20
Assessment Centre Prep Calls
4
Candidates Dropped Out
4
Reserves used