An Australian bank’s Head of Engineering introduced the Capacity Uplift Solutions Program (CUSP) to help grow their tech team. They needed more Developers and DevOps Engineers, but faced challenges with limited budget and not enough skilled people available. The program was also designed to create more opportunities for people starting out in tech or returning to the workforce, helping build a more balanced and capable team over time.

Through the CUSP program, eight consultants joined the bank’s tech team, mostly recent graduates and career changers looking to start their careers in technology. They were eager to learn and just needed someone to give them a chance.

Over 12 months, they received accredited technical training, attended 10 professional skills workshops, and participated in 26 mentoring sessions. While working on-site, each consultant followed a clear development plan aligned to the team’s goals.

The CUSP program delivered fast, measurable results. Within just 3–4 months, participants were fully productive, often exceeding expectations. Six out of eight consultants secured permanent roles, including four at the bank, showing the program’s strength in developing and retaining early-career talent.

By giving recent graduates and career changers a real opportunity to start in tech, the bank built capability, improved team balance, and saved around $125,000 per person per year compared to traditional contingent hiring.