The Society for IT Management (Socitm) has launched a 10-site pilot to develop a generic version of the Aspire software system developed in support of the Skills Framework from the Information Age (SFIA).
The pilots, taking place in county, district and metropolitan councils, will run until March this year.
Designed to standardise skills development in public sector IT delivery, as developed by Leeds City Council, the pilot has been launched to improve the society's growing emphasis on improving its professional support structure.
The Aspire system as a means to facilitate and manage professional development has been recognised by the Cabinet Office's Government IT Profession (GITP) initiative, the Local Government Steering Group and Socitm's Member Services Group with government funding of 25,000.
The pilot will look to 'productise' the system for more generic use across local government. In addition, the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for local government has matched this funding to facilitate the marketing and rollout of the revised system.
Andy Roberts, chair of the Socitm Member Services Group, last year told members that the pilots will be supported initially by Leeds City Council staff until skills are transferred.
"The aim of the pilots, as well as testing usability of the software, will be to develop business cases and case studies which will be used to further shape the product and seek further implementation," he said. "The Aspire system is fully aligned to the SFIA framework and provides full support for staff development, job descriptions etc, and is seen as a very strategic future service offering."
