As the UK workforce struggles to harness digital skills, and the tech sector strives to be more inclusive, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has created a platform to help more people enter the tech sector.
Made in partnership with The Institute of Coding and TheTalentPeople, the new GetMyFirstDigitalJob platform is a candidate marketplace designed to help people harness necessary skills and acquire a job in tech.
With the digital skills gap estimated to cost the government £62 billion per year, the need for easily accessible courses to upskill young people is paramount to the UK’s economic and technological standings.
GetMyFirstDigitalJob couples innovative technology with human advice to drive insights that partner employers with prospective employees.
The launch comes as recent polling from the Institute of Coding indicates only half of the population has confidence in their digital skills and more than a quarter believe they need a university degree to embark on a digital-led career.
Research has also found that almost 60% of the UK’s workforce does not possess the required skills needed for the modern day workforce, which risks digital transformation efforts as well as the government’s ambition to become a tech superpower.
The new partnership will also support learners on the Institute of Coding’s Click Start programmes, which are designed to help them find employment.
“We’re delighted to welcome BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and TheTalentPeople on board to pool together their extensive connections, to bring this GetMyFirstDigitalJob collaboration to learners,” Rachid Hourizi, director of the Institute of Coding said.
“The Institute of Coding is committed to ensuring that as many people as possible have the skills needed to thrive in their career. Our work helps industry to plug the ongoing digital skills gap, by easing the process of recruitment for employers and candidates and through this collaboration our learners will have access to some of the biggest employers in the country.”
Click Start, a learning programme developed by the Institute of Coding and funded by Nominet engages thousands of learners from diverse backgrounds and 94% have reported leaving the programme feeling prepared for a career in digital skills.
Learners will receive one-on-one support when applying for jobs, with the partnership giving access to an extensive network of employers, and a new marketplace of candidates which will help participants enter sustainable careers in technology.
BCS also hopes that the partnership will contribute to the hiring of a more diverse workforce into entry-level roles.
“At BCS we want to make IT good for society, and build a profession that’s competent, ethical, accountable, and inclusive,” Julia Adamson MBE, managing director of education and public benefit at BCS.
“Through reaching a range of learners through the Institute of Coding’s Click Start programmes, we will be able to give employers a diverse range of talent and ensure learners can gain employment in jobs where they’ll be able to kick start a new career.”
David Allison, CEO of TheTalentPeople also said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to unite with the Institute of Coding and BCS to achieve our shared mission that people from every background can engage with employers that are right for them.
“There is a strong demand for digital skills from the UK economy, but there are many barriers to people getting into the tech sector. This is an exciting project that will unite learners and employers to combat both the digital skills shortage among the population and help businesses ensure they have the skilled employees needed to thrive.”
Source: DIGIT