New digital skills programme launched to improve diversity in sector in Greater Manchester

The roll-out has begun of a new training programme to tackle workforce skills challenges in the digital sector in Greater Manchester.

Serco has been awarded a £4 million contract by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to deliver the ‘Digital Careers Upskill Programme’ as part of a the city-region’s three-year Skills for Growth initiative. The scheme aims to plug skills gaps identified by GM employers and is funded by the European Social Fund.

Following robust engagement with digital employers in the city-region, a number of barriers were identified including a lack of diverse perspectives, skills and life experiences.

As women account for just 18% of technical roles in the digital industry, the 22-month contract will target employed women across the city-region in order to improve diversity and identify progression routes within the industry.

Delivered across two strands, the Digital Careers Upskill Programme will focus on reskilling people working across a range of sectors to get into new digital roles as well as upskilling those already working in the digital, creative and tech industry so they can progress further.

The ageing population and low-paid workers are two further cohorts being prioritised by the Digital Careers Upskill Programme and wider Skills for Growth project.

Cllr Bev Craig, Greater Manchester’s new portfolio holder for Education Skills, Work, Apprenticeships and Digital said:

“We are home to the largest digital and creative cluster outside of London but to continue our growth and reach our ambitions of becoming a world-leading digital city-region, we need to invest in our residents and support our businesses.

“We know through talking to employers in the digital sector that there’s a gap in mid to senior level roles, which highlights a need to create more opportunities for entry level talent who can then progress.

“Further to this, supporting the creation of a more diverse workforce will lead to innovation and business growth through productive and relatable decision making.”

Serco will partner with five further providers (Readynez, Coders Guild, Apprentify, 3D 360 and Back to Work) to deliver the technical skills support across areas including cyber security, 3D printing, UX, web development and cloud engineering.

Rob Matts, Head of Skills at Serco said:

“We are committed to delivering a successful digital industry skills programme in Greater Manchester that contributes to productivity, innovation and economic growth across all sectors.

“In addition to this, we are proactively engaged in delivering social value outcomes through engagement with GM Social Value Network, joining the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, engaging with training providers and employment programmes like Kickstart and strengthening community links through volunteer work with local organisations.”