The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has collaborated with the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership to create a free training programme that will help boost IT employment in the North West of England.
The 16-week training programme, called IT-Ready, focuses on necessary tech and soft skills, as well as communication, conflict management and critical thinking.
The programme was developed in 2012 by CompTIA’s tech workforce charity Creating IT Futures. CompTIA reported that 85% of IT-Ready graduates were employed in a paid IT role with local area companies within four months of taking the programme, typically earning £16,000 - £18,000 per year.
Lancashire Local Digital Skills Partnership regional coordinator Kerry Harrison said the programme would aim to deliver IT training to adults with commitments who might not otherwise have the time to up-skill.
“The proposed flexible delivery model will allow a greater range of people to access the training by fitting around their current employment or caring responsibilities,” she said.
The digital skills shortage in the UK is part of a wider worldwide trend, with as many as 1.8 million IT jobs predicted to be unfilled by 2022.
“The UK tech industry is booming and we now boast more than 165,000 core IT job roles. However, only about one in 10 of these roles are actually getting filled,” said Graham Hunter, CompTIA’s VP of Skills Certification. “With IT-Ready, we are helping more adults get the training they need to boost their career, earn family-sustaining salaries and boost the UK’s digital economy.”
Applicants can enrol via www.creatingitfutures.org/lancashire by 21 February. The IT-Ready hybrid course and the programme is scheduled to start on 7 March.
-
Third time lucky? Microsoft finally begins roll-out of controversial Recall featureNews The Windows Recall feature has been plagued by setbacks and backlash from security professionals
-
The UK government wants quantum technology out of the lab and in the hands of enterprisesNews The UK government has unveiled plans to invest £121 million in quantum computing projects in an effort to drive real-world applications and adoption rates.
-
‘AI is coming for your jobs. It’s coming for my job too’: Fiverr CEO urges staff to upskill or be left behindNews The latest in a string of AI skills warnings has urged staff to begin preparing for the worst
-
IBM pledges support for UK government cyber skills programNews The CyberFirst Girls competition is aimed at increasing diversity in the cyber security workforce
-
AI skills training can't be left in the hands of big techNews Speakers at Turing's AI UK conference lay out challenges to AI skills readiness
-
Tech talent shortages mean firms are scrapping traditional recruitment strategiesNews With more than half of enterprise leaders worried about future skills shortages, many organizations are turning to a range of new techniques to expand potential talent pools.
-
The UK’s AI ambitions face one major hurdle – finding enough home-grown talentNews Research shows UK enterprises are struggling to fill AI roles, raising concerns over the country's ability to meet expectations in the global AI race.
-
Businesses know they have major skills deficits, but less than half plan on hiring more womenNews Male IT leaders remain complacent about gender diversity despite widespread skills shortages
-
Put AI to work for talent managementWhitepaper Change the way we define jobs and the skills required to support business and employee needs
-
Essential skills for managers: Develop resilient employeesWhitepaper Build team culture, no matter where your people are located
