25 July 2022: Multiverse, the Edtech startup on a mission to build an alternative to university and corporate training, today announces that it has partnered with ASOS, a destination for fashion-loving 20-somethings, to extend the online retailer’s Data Academy and further develop data skills across its business.

Funded through the apprenticeship levy, 73 ASOS employees have been enrolled in the Academy so far, which gives participants the opportunity to develop data skills across three different programmes:

• The 13-month Data Literacy programme which covers the core technical skills required to transform data into insights;
• The 15-month Data Fellowship which teaches apprentices the skills to clean, analyse and model data, and tell data stories to non-specialists; and
• The Advanced Data Fellowship - a degree-level programme – which empowers apprentices to develop their skills in data analysis and data science.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is at the heart of the initiative particularly because, nationally, only 18% of today's data science roles are occupied by women and 11% of data teams don't have any women in them at all.

As part of ASOS’ long running Fashion with Integrity programme aimed at minimising the business’ impact on the planet and delivering positive benefits for people, ASOS is working towards more than 40% female representation in Technology, Product Management and Data Science by 2030 (which stands at 28% currently), and over 15% ethnic minority representation at combined leadership level by 2023 (currently at 7%).

Notably, 75% of the apprentices enrolled with the ASOS Data Academy are female, and more than 50% identify as an ethnic minority. 

Sandra Kampmann, Director of Insights and Analytics at ASOS, said: “We are very proud of the incredible talent we have at ASOS. We’re passionate about their development, and particularly motivated to empower women across our Data and broader Tech teams. Multiverse’s technical focused programmes are fundamental to helping us deliver this targeted development; and to drive greater DEI in the sector, both internally and at an industry level.”

Orlagh Cramp, Insight Analyst at ASOS and apprentice on the programme said: “ASOS enabled my transfer from a different division of the business and, in turn, fuelled my interest in data and insight via the Multiverse programme. So far, the course has enhanced my confidence in handling different datasets, while also allowing me to work on tangible projects that are providing real business value. I think that running programmes like this shows just how much ASOS, as a business, values its employees.”

Andrew Griffiths, Senior Paid Media Manager at ASOS and apprentice on the programme, said: “As a result of the apprenticeship, I have improved the processes I use for data visualisation and dashboarding, which has greatly helped analysis and efficiency. The programme has also developed my interpersonal skills and my understanding of the data analytics lifecycle, which have supported my discussions of data insights with a range of stakeholders across the business.”

Euan Blair, CEO of Multiverse, said: "ASOS has rightly identified that there are two critical components to being a successful business; ensuring people at every level have a firm grasp on data, and spreading opportunity to talented people from all backgrounds.

"The extension of their world-class Data Academy, delivered in partnership with Multiverse, addresses both of those challenges. Apprentices on the programme are being equipped with data skills that can fuel business transformation - and the programme itself is elevating women into those senior data positions that for too long have been male-dominated."

Multiverse announced the closing of a $220 million Series D funding round earlier this year and now trains over 8,000 tech, leadership and digital apprentices globally.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Multiverse

Multiverse is a tech startup on a mission to create a diverse group of future leaders by building an outstanding alternative to university and corporate training. They offer apprenticeships to a diverse pool of young adults and those looking to reskill. Multiverse works with over 300 businesses, helping them embrace digital transformation, close skills gaps and develop a diverse talent pipeline. Apprentices benefit from one-to-one coaching, applied learning, and a community of social, networking and leadership opportunities.

Founded in the UK in 2016, Multiverse launched in the US in January 2021. In September 2021, they announced a $130 million Series C funding round led by D1 Capital Partners and BOND - bringing total funding for the tech startup to $194 million.

For more information, please visit www.multiverse.io

About ASOS

ASOS is a destination for fashion-loving 20-somethings around the world, with a purpose to give its customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be. Through its app and mobile/desktop web experience, available in ten languages and in over 200 markets, ASOS customers can shop a curated edit of over 100,000 products, sourced from nearly 900 global and local partner brands alongside a mix of fashion-led own-brand labels - ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS 4505, ASOS Luxe, As You, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Weekend Collective, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, Dark Future, Unrvlld Spply, Crooked Tongues, Day Social and Actual. ASOS aims to give its 26.7 million customers a truly frictionless experience, with an ever-greater number of different payment methods and hundreds of local delivery and return options, including Next-Day Delivery and Same-Day Delivery, dispatched from state-of-the-art fulfilment centres in the UK, US and Germany. The business was also recently announced as a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer.

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