Visa reimagines early talent development
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 programme cultivates and empowers the next generation of innovators and leaders within the digital payments sector.
We visited Visa’s London office to fully capture the transformative impact of 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.
We spoke with Kemi Otitoju, Visa Europe
Kemi Otitoju’s route to becoming a Degree Apprentice at Visa Europe is a testament to her proactive pursuit of hands-on learning and professional growth. Initially attracted to the programme after a brief stint at university, Kemi sought an environment where she could absorb theoretical knowledge and apply it practically. “Once I was at university, I realised I wanted more, more experience. I didn’t want to just learn about theory; I wanted to put it into practice,” Kemi explains.
The rotational nature of her apprenticeship at Visa allows Kemi to experience different parts of the business every six months, from direct client interaction to internal functions. This exposure has significantly broadened her skillset, particularly evident when she took on a managerial role in organising an event for the VCS team—her first significant opportunity to handle logistics independently. “I had a lot of autonomy over the logistics of the event,” she recounts, emphasising the responsibility and learning it entailed.
Daniel Farrar, Head of Early Careers at Visa Europe, also comments on the strategic importance of degree apprenticeships. He has witnessed the evolution of recruitment, aiming to diversify the talent pool in the payments industry. “Early talent at Visa gives us an opportunity to widen the talent pool in payments…making sure the solutions Visa offers are as diverse as possible and sustainable for everybody in society,” he states.
