“Like jumping from a bridge.” That was how one employee at French telecoms operator Orange described a skills programme that has helped old-school engineers to master cloud-based technologies, while managers retrain in roles such as cyber security.

Thankfully, Orange does not just wait for people to sink or swim; it gives them a safety net. “When we offer a worker the chance to change jobs, it’s not six months in the classroom,” says Vincent Lecerf, executive vice-president of human resources and group transformation at Orange.

Instead, the individual joins a new team — on their existing salary and the promise of continued employment — in an approach that, from day one, interleaves on-the-job learning with formal instruction and coaching. “What makes the difference is not just the quality of the training but of the mentor — the feeling that as a learner you’re supported,” Lecerf adds.