This blog was originally posted to my LinkedIn profile page, which you can find here.
The battle for talent and skills will undoubtedly be one of the most strategic issues we face as businesses over the next decade. Digital skills in particular are critical, not only for the technology industry itself but as the fuel for innovation and growth right across the economy in all industries. With that context, how can it be possible that we will have a shortfall of at least one million digital jobs in the UK over the next 6-10 years?
In a world where there are more mobile phones than toothbrushes, where most of us feel like we have lost a limb when we can’t find a wireless network and where every company in the world is becoming a digital company we need digital skills. Filling the one million gap should drive compelling advantage for the UK, doing nothing poses a real and present threat to the UK economy and our global competitiveness. We have to act and act now.
Phil Smith and the Tech Partnership Board Members
As businesses, we need to step up to the challenge. We need to be active in addressing the gap, we need to get involved, encourage our colleagues to help, act as role-models and get stuck in. Finger pointing at schools, universities or the education system isn’t the solution; it’s a problem we all have to solve – together.
So how do we make a difference?
Well, I was delighted, last week, to help launch the ‘Tech Partnership’, an expanding group of businesses working together to grow the digital economy. The Tech Partnership is about us, employers, genuinely driving advantage for our industry and for the whole country by delivering on the skills shortfall. Our three priorities are:
New talent
We are inspiring young people about technology education and careers, by for example
- Providing a motivational online careers portal for the sector
- Helping schools and universities with industry-based curriculum resources and teacher support
- Leading a campaign to attract more females into technology-related education and careers.
New jobs
We are accelerating the flow of talented people into technology careers, by for example:
Increasing the uptake of apprenticeships by:
- Setting industry standards
- Promoting high quality training that delivers them
- Enabling employers to have more control of government funding.
Increasing the intake of new graduates by:
- Creating industry-backed degree programmes and conversion courses
- Increasing employability skills within computer science degrees
- Establishing a post-graduate training programme that prepares new graduates for technology careers.
- Promoting a broadening range of pathways into the sector.
New skills
We are helping all employers develop the strategic digital skills for growth, by for example :
- Making it easier to find relevant training, by enabling individuals to benchmark skills against industry standards and find training that meets their needs
- Establishing Tech Skills Hubs that help businesses to collaborate for growth
- Providing access to government funding for training for employers willing to co-invest in skills of strategic importance to the economy.
So if that’s what the Tech Partnership does and we have government funding to help to make it happen, then how do you get involved? Have a look at what we are up to and join in.
Over the next 10 years we need to plug the one million gap. A million digitally savvy people joining the workforce. This partnership has the capability and support to make it happen.
I am really proud to be apart of such a powerful team. Will you join in and help us make a million?
Read more at thetechpartnership.com
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