Cuba Stanley – Payara

After leaving Hereford Sixth Form College, local lad Cuba Stanley was contemplating his future options. The inevitable debt resulting from a University degree was a worry and so he decided to apply for a Degree Apprenticeship Program instead. After filling in the application form and attending an interview at the company offering the apprenticeship, Cuba was offered a job at Payara, a computer software firm.

Cuba now attends Aston University studying Computing and at the same time works at Payara. This Malvern business was established in 2017, initially family run, but now this rapidly growing company has bases in Northern England and Europe and customers worldwide.

Cuba has enjoyed his apprenticeship, having now completed 2 years. He says, “I would highly recommend a Degree Apprenticeship to residents in the UK looking for an alternative (and arguably better) route into the software industry.”

Julie Millidge, HR and Operations Manager at Payara says the apprenticeship training program has enabled the company to support Malvern residents and gain talented new colleagues.

Malvern Hills District Council offers two grant schemes to local businesses looking to take on apprentices and graduates: Apprentice Grant and the Malvern Hills Graduate Internship and Recruitment Grant.  Malvern Hills District Council also offers an Apprenticeship Bursary to help young people enroll to an apprenticeship. For more information contact Christine Butler, Economic Development Officer, at Christine.Butler@malvernhills.gov.uk or call 01684 862183.