GCS IT has dropped its academy programme for new consultants because it was giving them too much information over too short a time. The company has introduced a masterclass-orientated 'on the job' approach.

Academies are the latest buzz-word in recruitment, with Eden Brown and Eutopia Solutions among those which have set them up.

But Grahame Winman, business development manager with the Reading-based company, told Recruiter: "We had an academy but it didn't really work as we were giving the new starters so much information."

GCS ran its academy for "about a year" nearly four years ago but now prefers to teach new consultants via a series of masterclasses which are taken as the consultant spends time with the company. This has yielded better results, Winman said.

Head of sales Paul Winchester said the firm's goal was to be a £70m turnover company within five years. "There may be some acquisitions along the way," he revealed.

GCS has offices in Reading, London, Nottingham, Paris, Amsterdam and Cannes. It is due to open another office in Birmingham.