techUK relaunches training, accreditation arm as TechSkills
Airbus, Sky, Bank of England among organisations offering apprenticeships.
Industry body techUK has relaunched its training company as TechSkills, with the organisation -- which has an employer network of over 800 companies and over 10,000 registered subscribers -- doubling down on its work to help ensure digital training meets the needs of industry through its accreditation programme.
Previously known as "Tech Partnership Degrees" (a subsidiary of techUK since October 2020) TechSkills will continue to be led by its Employer Board of tech leaders from all sectors. It takes forward the current work of Tech Partnership Degrees, including the Tech Industry Gold accreditation. This recognises training (from degrees to apprenticeships) that meet industry standards for quality and relevance to employers.
Over 5,000 people are already undertaking Tech Industry Gold programmes, and the TechSkills team will be building on the range of training opportunities to help people from all backgrounds enter digital careers.
(Companies offering apprenticeships as part of Tech Industry Gold training include Airbus, Barclays, Bank of England, Ford, JP Morgan, Sky; many others.)
See also: P&G Group CIO Vittorio Cretella on leaving school at 17, and taking a chance on talent from any background
Jacqueline de Rojas, President, techUK said: "TechSkills is committed to opening doors and creating opportunities for all. This new and ambitious initiative reflects the breadth of business commitment, including partnering with a growing community of universities and training providers to develop the digital talent industry needs.
She added: "Economic recovery must have digital jobs at its heart and strive to empower people from every walk of life with the skills they need to prepare for what comes next.”
Benefits to employers from engaging with TechSkills include easy access to outstanding graduates, equipped with the business, technical and interpersonal skills to hit the ground running. As the techUK team notes: "Tech Industry Gold students are highly motivated and achieving outstanding results, plus for those interested in increasing diversity, there are twice as many females on these industry accredited programmes compared to computing degrees overall."
Phil Smith, CBE, Chair, TechSkills, said: “In an increasingly digital society with a rapidly changing workplace, everyone needs new skills to thrive. I am very proud of the work Tech Partnership Degrees has done - and the Tech Partnership / e-skills UK before it - to bring together employers and education, transforming curricula and giving thousands of people the skills to succeed. This evolution into TechSkills will strengthen our impact as part of the techUK family, helping to raise the profile of our partnerships and work, and enabling many more people to benefit from the Tech Industry Gold quality which makes such a tangible difference to employability and careers”.
