The North East has 2,000 IT vacancies that cannot currently be filled – there are not enough young people, and especially women, with the right skills entering the sector.
This despite the fact that the North East has a hugely successful IT industry with over 32,000 people working in IT and is one of the region’s largest employers.
However, the region currently has an IT skills gap in line with the rest of the UK which has seen an 8.5% increase in jobs since 2011 and currently provides 2,600,000 jobs UK-wide that equates to an £8.8m contribution to the UK economy every hour.
As a result Dynamo, the North East IT employer network, in partnership with Baltic Training Services, a leading IT training provider, is launching the UK’s first IT Apprentice Hub. It is comprised of a 15 week Rising Stars programme offering an intensive IT skills training course with technical content aimed at preparing young adults for their first role in the IT sector. The North East is the first region to attempt this type of approach in IT and if successful could be rolled out across the UK.
The first IT Apprentice Hub is scheduled to open at Sunderland (at Sunderland Software City) in February 2015 with the second Hub scheduled to open in Newcastle in April 2015 and is entirely government funded coming at no cost to the students.
It has already been successfully piloted in Newcastle at Quorum Business Park where eight young people have been through the 15 week programme with seven successfully employed as IT apprentices, six at NCFE, a leading national awarding organisation and part of the Dynamo IT employer network.
Those who successfully complete the course are then given the opportunity to progress to a paid full time 12 month Level 3 apprenticeship with an IT employer. The intention is to bridge the gap between education and industry.
From an employer perspective they can recruit from a pool of dedicated, driven individuals who have already demonstrated commitment and are appropriately qualified. From the young person’s point of view there is an opportunity to start their career in IT with some of the region’s leading IT businesses.
Bob Paton, Vice Chair of Dynamo and managing director of Accenture in Newcastle, said: “We have an ever growing and successful IT sector in the North East, however, to grow it further we need to increase the pool of young people in the region who have the skills necessary to join the industry. That is why Dynamo has put skills development at the top of our agenda. A major element of our skills strategy is to increase the take on of apprentices particularly for SMEs. Setting up this Apprentice Hub is unique in IT and will significantly help more young people into our industry.”
Dynamo has set out an IT Skills Strategy for the North East IT industry which encompasses primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities, getting more women into IT, and how to make it easier for IT based SMEs to take on apprentices.
Working closely with Baltic Training Services, the Newton Aycliffe based IT training provider, Dynamo has developed the IT Apprentice Hub which takes away the challenges SMEs face in hiring apprentices.
Louise Ball operations director of Baltic Training Services said: “The IT sector is a major employer in the region and as its fastest growing sector this will only become more so. It is very important therefore that we support it by attracting the brightest and best young talent in sufficient numbers. We will do this by delivering recognised accredited training and offering a clear route to the employer who in turn will provide sustainable career opportunities.
“We developed the model in collaboration with Dynamo within the IT sector, to provide a structured approach to attracting, training and recruiting new talent into the IT sector.”
The first IT Apprentice Hub is scheduled to open at Sunderland (at Sunderland Software City) in February 2015 with the second Hub scheduled to open in Newcastle in April 2015. It has already been successfully piloted in Newcastle at Quorum Business Park where eight young people have been through the 15 week programme with seven successfully employed as IT apprentices, six at NCFE, a leading national awarding organisation and part of the Dynamo IT employer network.
The Sunderland IT Apprentice Hub is being supported by Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Software City.
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Paul Watson said: “More than 1,000 people in Sunderland are already employed in the IT sector.
“There’s a growing demand for these IT skills from many businesses and organisations, including start-ups.
“However it’s been recognised nationally, and internationally, that there’s an IT skills gap among some young people and it’s crucial that this is plugged.
“As the first in the North East region, this Sunderland-based training Hub is about upskilling more of our young people into the growing IT sector by updating their skills and knowledge.
“Training programmes, such as this Hub, are very much part of this City Council’s commitment to investing in job creation as part of our Economic Masterplan.”
Amy Porter, skills manager for Sunderland Software City, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the creation of the UK’s first dedicated IT Apprentice Hub.
“Addressing the skills gap and making sure young people are aware of the opportunities within the IT sector in our region is fundamental to the continued growth and success of the industry.
“We will be working with Dynamo and Baltic Training Services to provide a bridge between the apprentices and business; liaising with our network of software SMEs we will provide ongoing industry support, mentoring and practical work experience for the apprentices. We will continue to work with schools and colleges to make sure teachers and students are aware of the alternative routes into IT and the job opportunities available in the North East.”
The Hub has also been given fantastic support by the IT industry in the region with Accenture, who have their UK Technology Delivery Centre based in the North East supplying the laptops for the Hub.
Bob Paton said: “We are delighted to provide support for the IT Apprentice Hub and we believe it will have a major positive impact in SMEs taking on apprentices.”
The IT Apprenticeship Hub is funded through an arrangement between Darlington College and Baltic Training Services. Recruits can receive subsidies toward travel for the 15 weeks and other funds may be available to support their learning. Baltic Training Services is a Microsoft Partner and is delivering the training at no cost to the Rising Stars.