Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire is looking to lead the way when it comes to the digital skills shortage across the region.
The organisation, made up of further education colleges and independent training providers, presented at the Digital Skills Symposium during the recent Birmingham Tech Week.
The organisation also handed out Excellence in Partnership Awards to 8 local businesses for their collaborative work.
SkillsWM+W board member John Murray says, ‘The digital skills gap across the region is impacting businesses’ productivity and individuals’ employability, so work is being done in response to the urgent need for digital upskilling to ensure companies remain competitive.
“Skills WMW works to align education with industry needs to build a digitally capable workforce and boost economic growth, by offering essential digital skills and CPD courses in AI, cybersecurity and digital tools tailored to workforce needs.
“The symposium provided a great platform for the FE sector to illustrate our collective response to the digital skills gap; to outline the provision we have already put in place and to reach out to employers and articulate their importance in shaping the whole nature of digital skills acquisition in the future.’
The Innovation Hubs are also supporting SME’s in workshops to boost skills and collaboration, upskilling staff with robotics projects, AI, cybersecurity and 3D printing. Many of those taking part over the age of 21, highlighting the emphasis on adult education and reskilling for career advancement.
SkillsWM+W shared research with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce in a bid to look at informing curriculum and skills funding needs in the future.
The companies awarded were:
1 Gateley PLC
2 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
3 Cybercy Group
4 Housing 21
5 EDGE Creative Ltd
6 Devetecho
7 Intaforensics Ltd
8 Aspenify Inc.
