ICT: Vacancies

(asked on 17th December 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there are sufficient skilled workers to fill vacancies in the information and communications technology sector.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Agnew of Oulton
This question was answered on 20th December 2018

​It is a key priority of this government to make sure that young people have the digital and computing skills needed for the future. In 2014 the government introduced a computing curriculum at all four key stages, which aims to ensure pupils understand the fundamental principles of computer science, including programming, coding and data representation. To improve the teaching of computing and drive up participation in computer science at GCSE and A level we launched a new National Centre for Computing Education, which is backed by £84 million of investment.

Digital apprenticeships offer a route for further study and, from 2020, young people will also be able to study a Digital T level, which is based on employer designed standards and content. In addition, the government launched the Ada National College for Digital Skills which opened in 2016 and specialises in higher level training for digital specialisms. The government has also invested £20 million to establish the Institute of Coding, a consortium of more than 60 universities, businesses and industry experts set up to transform degree courses to boost the supply of digital specialists at graduate level.

​To support our current workforce to upskill and retrain, particularly those whose jobs are most likely to be affected by automation and technological change, we are creating a new National Retraining Scheme. In the 2018 Autumn Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new government funding of £100 million for the continued testing and development of the scheme, with initial launch to the first users of the National Retraining Scheme in 2019.

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