Future-ready
consultants.
Built in twelve months.

A structured consulting pathway that transforms graduate and early-career talent into commercially-ready consultants — equipped to contribute across technology, data, AI and transformation.

12MONTHS
Structured journey
7STREAMS
Tech & business
About the Program

A new path from university to industry.

By combining client-based experience, capability development, mentoring and certification, the program builds professionals who can support both technical delivery and business-side transformation outcomes.

It’s structured, supported and accountable — designed to give graduates the commercial experience universities can’t replicate, and give clients access to a steady pipeline of future-ready talent.

12 mo
Journey
4+3
Streams
1:1
Mentoring
Why the Program Exists

A capability gap that demands a deliberate response.

Organisations need future-ready capability

The skills clients need today look different from those of five years ago — and the curve keeps steepening.

Graduates need a real path into industry

A more structured route into consulting and client environments than the open market alone provides.

The market needs emerging talent in AI & transformation

Capability across AI, data, engineering, analysis and transformation — at the early-career level.

A pathway good for everyone

Built so it works for graduates, clients and university partners alike — not just one of the three.

Program Objectives

What this program sets out to do.

  • 01
    Build client-ready emerging consultants.
  • 02
    Develop future-focused capability for the market.
  • 03
    Give graduates practical commercial experience.
  • 04
    Create a structured transition from university to industry.
  • 05
    Support clients with well-supported emerging talent.
  • 06
    Create a repeatable talent and capability model.
Who It's For

Ambitious graduates ready to step up.

Graduates and early-career professionals from degrees aligned to the streams below, plus a few qualities we look for beyond a transcript.

Aligned degrees
  • AI
  • Data
  • Software / Engineering
  • Business Analysis
  • Change & Transformation
  • Project Delivery
Qualities we look for
  • Strong communication skills
  • Curiosity and a growth mindset
  • Commercial potential
  • An interest in client-facing work
  • A proactive, collaborative approach
  • Genuine interest in future-focused tech
Twelve Month Journey

A deliberate progression — from cohort onboarding to certified contributor.

M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
M6
M7
M8
M9
M10
M11
M12
✓
01
Months 1–3

Onboarding & foundations

Consulting fundamentals, formal training and stream alignment — building shared cohort foundations.

02
Months 4–6

Capability build

Stream-specific technical learning, mentoring and first hands-on exposure to client environments.

03
Months 7–9

Client placement

Embedded with INDEX delivery teams on real engagements — supported by senior mentors throughout.

04
Months 10–12

Specialisation & certification

Deepening skills, gaining industry certification, and stepping up to lead components of work.

Technology Streams

Four future-focused tech pathways.

Each consultant aligns to a primary stream, with deliberate exposure across adjacent capabilities through the program.

Stream · 01

Data / AI

Data engineering, analytics, ML and responsible AI — from foundations to first production models.

Stream · 02

Engineering / Development

Full-stack and platform engineering across modern frameworks and cloud-native services.

Stream · 03

Testing / QA

Modern test engineering — automation, performance, and the quality practices that ship reliable software.

Stream · 04

Cloud / DevOps / Infrastructure

CI/CD, IaC, observability and the platform work that makes everything else possible.

Business Streams

Three business-side pathways.

For graduates with a feel for the business of transformation as much as the technology.

Stream · 05

Business Analysis

Requirements, process and the discipline of turning ambiguity into clear, deliverable work.

Stream · 06

Projects / PMO

Project & program delivery — planning, governance, reporting and the rhythm of execution.

Stream · 07

Change / Transformation

Change management and transformation delivery — the human side of large technology programs.

Learning, Mentoring & Certification

Layered support — built around how consultants actually grow.

Formal training

Consulting fundamentals

Technical learning (stream)

Mentoring & coaching

Industry certification

Peer cohort support

Performance check-ins

Industry Certification

Certifications that count — earned, not handed out.

Every consultant earns industry certification relevant to their stream during the twelve-month program. Below are a few of the credentials most commonly pursued — explore our full library for overviews, exam costs and salary expectations.

View all certifications
For Clients

Why this matters to clients and industry.

  • Access to emerging talent with relevant capability
  • A structured and supported model — not bring-your-own
  • Additional delivery capacity, ready to plug in
  • Future-focused skillsets aligned to where work is heading
  • Reduced onboarding risk through INDEX oversight
  • A long-term talent pipeline you can plan around
For Graduates

What graduates get from the program.

  • Real client experience from day one
  • Structured development tied to a clear pathway
  • 1:1 mentoring from senior consultants
  • Industry certification relevant to your stream
  • Exposure to future-focused work and clients
  • Genuine consulting capability, not just technical skill
  • Career acceleration through visible delivery
  • Connection to industry — long after the program ends
Program Structure & Oversight

A structured model — start to finish.

Built to combine candidate selection, capability development, client experience and ongoing support — creating a strong foundation for graduates, clients and partners.

01

Candidate selection & stream alignment

02

Onboarding and program induction

03

Learning and development model

04

Mentoring and participant support

05

Client experience and placement support

06

Program ownership and oversight

07

Progress tracking and review points

08

Partner-enabled delivery

Get in Touch

Let's talk about the next cohort.

Whether you're a student, a careers office or a client thinking about emerging-talent capability — drop us a note and we'll set up a call with Stuart to walk you through it.

Direct line
Stuart Lindsay
National Director, INDEX Consultants

Register your interest

    FAQ

    Common questions.

    For students, universities and clients exploring how to engage.

    1300 4 INDEX
    How is the program structured over 12 months?
    The program runs as a cohort across four phases — onboarding and foundations, capability build, client placement, then specialisation and certification. Each phase pairs structured learning with hands-on client work so progression is grounded in real delivery.
    Do graduates work on real client engagements?
    Yes. Real client experience is the foundation of the program — placements are matched to a graduate's stream, with senior mentoring and INDEX oversight wrapped around every engagement.
    Who can refer or partner with INDEX on the program?
    Universities can refer students into intake cohorts, and we welcome conversations with career services, departmental leads and industry-engagement teams. Clients can sponsor placements or co-design streams. Get in touch and we'll match the conversation to your role.
    What does it cost a graduate to take part?
    NextGen participants are engaged on contract through INDEX and compensated as professionals — there is no training bond or fee to take part.
    When does the next cohort start?
    We run intakes through the year in partnership with universities and clients. Register your interest and we'll let you know the next available cohort and stream.