Digital Skills
Last year most businesses reported a skills shortage, according to The Edge Foundation. Many struggle to recruit and retain people with digital skills in particular.
UK secondary schools face a shortage of computer science teachers, compounding the challenges in building a pipeline of young people with digital skills.
Yet young people with digital skills can forge a rewarding, flexible, well paid career. The National Careers Service lists dozens of digital job roles, from App Developer to Web Developer.
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education IfATE has developed a Digital 'Occupational Map' showing the digital apprenticeships available. Young people can take apprenticeships at level 2 (GCSE equivalent) through to levels 6 and 7 (degree level). So there are many pathways in to digital jobs, whatever qualification someone leaves school with.
Employers needing digital skills can help to encourage more young people to consider a digital career. The easiest way is to engage with a secondary school local to their business.
Why Working with Schools can Benefit Employers
A report by the charity Education and Employers looked at the benefits to employers from engaging with schools.
- Employers report recruitment opportunities through building links with a local school and a better community and public image.
- Employers working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)-related
fields, in particular, believe that employer engagement is an effective way of attract a diverse group of young people to the STEM fields. - Employer activities in schools demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) aka environmental, social and governance (ESG).
- Engaging with pupils, particularly through work placements, gives employers access to the valuable resource of creativity. Young people with fresh eyes can make remarkable contributions.
Employers report recruitment opportunities and a better community and public image from engaging with schools
If you are interested in learning how to engage with a secondary school and would like to talk this through, please get in touch.