Posted on 23 April 2025 by
At RDT, we don’t just recruit apprentices and graduates—we invest in the future of technology. Every year, we open our doors to a fresh wave of curious minds and aspiring innovators. But the way we do it isn’t typical, because we’re not typical.
23 April 2025
We believe in building a team that’s as passionate, inquisitive, and collaborative as the people already here – and that starts from the very first interaction.
From 430 to 20: more than just numbers
This year, 430 hopefuls applied to join RDT’s early careers programme, a number that tells us one thing loud and clear—young people want to build their futures in tech. From TikTok videos to LinkedIn posts and in-person school outreach, our recruitment campaign cast a wide net. We’re not rigid about the mix of apprentices and grads we take—it’s all about finding the right people. Talent comes in many forms.
Our TikTok channel has become a key part of that journey. We’re building it as the go-to place for advice for apprentices and grads applying for tech roles. Whether someone’s exploring their first steps into an apprenticeship or searching for their ideal graduate opportunity, we want to be their trusted source for insights, tips, and real-life experiences—delivered in a way that’s accessible, supportive, and real.
Over six weeks, we conducted 75 interviews and assessed applicants’ coding chops through a challenge that asked them to programme a Mars Rover. It wasn’t just about who could write the best code—it was about how they thought, improved, and reflected on their process.
And then came The Inspiration Day.
Why we don’t call it an “Assessment Day”
Let’s be honest—no one looks forward to something called an “assessment.” So, we don’t have one. Instead, we host an Inspiration Day. Because for us, it’s not about weeding people out. It’s about lighting a spark. It’s about giving every attendee, whether they walk away with a job or not, something valuable: confidence, knowledge, and a glimpse of what it’s like to work in a place where learning never stops.
20 finalists joined us at our HQ, where they were immersed in a series of interactive and thoughtful activities.
Bringing agile principles to life
One of the standout moments was the agile ball game—a deceptively simple team exercise that reveals a lot about how people think, communicate, and adapt under pressure.
Split into teams of apprentices and grad applicants, each group was challenged to pass as many balls as possible through the team within a short time limit. With every new round, they were given the chance to plan, estimate, test out new strategies, and reflect on their performance before trying again.
The transformation was immediate. What started as a chaotic relay turned into a coordinated, strategic effort. Without realising it, participants were practising key agile concepts: sprint planning, collaboration, retrospectives, managing change (ducks!!), and continuous improvement.
It was fast-paced, fun, and deeply insightful. And for the record: the apprentices came out on top.
Real conversations, real people
Beyond the games, candidates took part in a technical interview, a career-focused discussion, an AI architecture session, and even pair programming with our software engineers. The assessments they’d submitted earlier were reviewed together, not to critique, but to learn. What would they do differently now? How could their programme be developed with a new challenge? What did they discover about themselves?
These weren’t theoretical challenges—they were glimpses into life at RDT, and opportunities for candidates to see how they’d fit, grow, and contribute.
A company that shows up
In a mid-sized tech business like ours, people are everything. And the fact that our staff—not just HR, but engineers, leaders, and past apprentices—volunteered their time to host, mentor, and evaluate candidates on a Saturday speaks volumes. This wasn’t just a company initiative. It was a community moment.
Our CTO and Talent Lead kicked off the day, but it was our people who made it special. Two of the RDT team had been through this exact process last year—and this time, they were the ones offering guidance and encouragement.
Feedback from candidates poured in: “Relaxed, not rigid.” “Way easier to open up than I thought.” “The best thing I’ve ever done.”
That’s exactly the kind of environment we want to create. Supportive. Thoughtful. Driven by people who care.
Four places. One shared experience.
Everyone knew there were only four spots available. That could have made for a tense day. But it didn’t. Because at RDT, we believe everyone who gives us their time deserves something in return.
Whether it was a new technical skill, a better understanding of agile, or just the confidence that comes from trying something outside their comfort zone, every attendee took something meaningful home.
The day wrapped with pizza, beer, and lively debate among the RDT team as we selected our newest recruits. And while we went over our quota to welcome five incredible people into the business, we also walked away proud of the process, the energy, and the next generation of tech talent ready to take on the world.
Thinking about your next step?
Whether you’re exploring apprenticeships or ready to launch your graduate career, we’d love to hear from you. Keep an eye on our TikTok and LinkedIn for tips, insights, and opportunities to join the RDT team.
