Yesterday (Thursday 10 September 2020), we brought together key people in the technology industry for a virtual workshop to discuss how we can address the skills needed for the rapidly evolving technology sector.
The event was held to help explore how we can best use our links across industry, education and government, as well as our international platform, to address skills needs and talent development for the technology industry.
It follows on from our recent report ‘Answering the call for digital skills excellence from international investors’ that stated that high quality digital skills are critical for attracting foreign investment and helping economic recovery in the UK.
Attendees included representatives from techUK, Cap Gemini, Northumberland College, Palo Alto Networks, and Digital Innovators. They took part in several lively discussions on topics including:
• What are some of the challenges in terms of skills and recruitment in the technology sector?
• What are the emerging working methodologies in technology and how are these affecting the sector?
• How can we ensure accessibility and widespread participation in our technology competitions?
Dee Aylett-Smith, WorldSkills UK Head of National Competitions and Careers said:
“The technology sector is rapidly evolving, and digital skills are becoming ever more relevant. We believe that technology is amongst the most significant drivers for change and can aid the UK’s response to economic need.
“Through our unique access to the global WorldSkills network, we’re in the position to benchmark against other countries and gain access to international expertise. Our belief is that working with organisations of all shapes and sizes will enable us to build a world leading skills base to support the UK’s emerging strength as a destination for digital investment, and future proof the industry in these uncertain times.”
The event discussions and findings will contribute to a mini report authored by WorldSkills UK and will inform our approach to developing our competitions in this area.
