Vantaggi
FDM get your foot in the door of companies you'd have likely not been able to join under your current experience or going through an extremely rigorous company graduate scheme. I met some amazing people there who I'm still friends with so it's kind of like a second round of high school. 10-12 weeks with a very close group.
Svantaggi
Due to the fact you're an independent consultant, the company that you're with won't provide you with any training that FDM aren't willing to pay for. And FDM will pay for almost nothing. Bare minimum. The training within the academy is barely passable as "training". A part form a couple tricks on excel I don't think i learned anything within the academy. And they hold a threat of paying £20,000 over your head if you decide to leave their programme in the first 2 years. You're not paid while in the academy in the UK but everywhere else seems to be. Pretty shocking as a lot of people will be coming out of Uni with zero funds to sustain themselves. FDM will do almost anything to cut corners and are extremely inconsistent with pay and try to wrangle out of any increase. I had a friend who went from 3rd to 4th year at FDM and they refused to increase his salary because they said his contract had been "extended". Very shady and a very poor show from people who are just sitting about collecting cash off of your paycheque. Zero benefits as well, terrible holidays and a terrible pension. You get paid a salary in a split of "Basic" and a "bonus" which is your day rate. Day rate doesn't count as pensionable in FDM's eyes so even in your 3rd/4th year onwards if you're on site through FDM you're still only going to be getting pension at 4% of £20k (£66.67 a month). My girlfriend was paid £12,000 less than me a year in retail and was getting more of a pension. You'd have to pay me to recommend FDM to anyone. I'm glad I'm out.