Recent press headlines have highlighted that the UK is facing a digital skills shortage that could impact future growth and employment if this isn’t corrected, however, to bridge the gap for young people seeking to gain these credentials New College Swindon has made it a priority to offer qualifications in this sector at all levels.
The BBC reported earlier this week that the UK is heading towards a “catastrophic” digital skills shortage “disaster”, a think tank has warned.
Experts say digital skills are vital to economic recovery following the pandemic, which has been reciprocated in Swindon with the imminent launch of the employer led Institute of Technology that opens its doors to students with courses starting in September.
Key employers and university partners have been involved in developing the IoT courses, all playing a significant role in the development of the industry standard facilities. They will be involved directly in training, mentoring and supporting the students. This will correlate directly to having sustainable and exciting digital career opportunities in Swindon, Wiltshire and the wider region.
Chris Baish, Managing Director of the Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology, said: “We are certainly tackling the problems outlined by the BBC head-on.
“Working with employer partners we have put digital skills right at the centre of the Swindon and Wiltshire IoT and are developing the existing New College offer even further.
“As of September this year we will be offering exciting new routes to much-needed higher level digital skills. These will range from Digital T-Levels right through to degree level via apprenticeships in Network Engineering, Software Engineering, Cyber Technologist and Data Analysis. “
Chris added: “As part of a comprehensive range of new apprenticeships and courses at the IoT, we are dramatically increasing the breadth of digital skills on offer and providing new state-of-the art facilities in which to learn them.”
The Learning and Work Institute’s research reveals that 70% of young people expect employers to invest in teaching them digital skills on the job, but only half of the employers surveyed in the study are able to provide that training – leaving many young people without these relevant skills.
To find out more about the variety of levels across all of the digital opportunities at the college and the Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology, visit: www.sawiot or https://www.newcollege.ac.uk/c…
