By james art The West Midlands has cemented its ambition to become the UK’s leading digital hub with the announcement of the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium (WMDSC).
Announced at Birmingham Tech Week 2024’s Digital Skills Symposium, the consortium – made up of businesses from a variety of sectors – will aim to revolutionize the region’s digital ecosystem by creating a unique environment for digital skills development and innovation.
Founding members include TechWM, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), IBM, SF Technology, IN4 Group and AND Digital, working together under the leadership of Victoria Pargeter-Garner, Director of Digital Skills and Commercial Impact at TechWM.
Lord Culvir Ranger, chair of digital skills at the West Midlands Technology and Digital Advisory Board, will work with the consortium to ensure its aims are aligned with the wider technology strategy for the region.
A working group of key members will meet regularly to discuss progress and make recommendations which will be fed back to WMCA, academic institutions and training providers.
A primary goal of the Consortium is to develop a robust pipeline of digital talent. By collaborating with colleges, universities and specialized training providers, WMDSC will design programs aimed at training individuals in high-demand digital skills such as coding, data analytics, cybersecurity and AI.
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In particular, the Consortium is working with IBM to offer a range of free digital programs such as IBM SkillsBuild and other learning opportunities, including a newly developed AI for All workshop. This initiative will help ensure the West Midlands is recognized as a hub for digital talent, supporting both SMEs and larger businesses to meet their technology workforce needs.
The consortium also aims to provide SMEs with strategic guidance on how to attract, retain and develop technology talent by offering practical pathways and strategies.
“Our region’s growing digital sector is key to creating new job opportunities, especially for young people. WMCA is investing in vital skills training such as cyber, AI, coding and green technology to help bridge the digital skills gap and connect people to the jobs of the future,” said Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands.
“Supporting young people into these careers is essential to tackling youth unemployment and I am committed to working with the technology sector to meet their needs. I also encourage businesses to step up by offering work experience, training and internships to help young people get started.”
Pargetter-Garner added: “The launch of the Digital Skills Consortium is a key moment for the West Midlands. This initiative not only positions our region at the cutting edge of technological advancement, but also reinforces our commitment to creating a future-ready workforce.
“By bringing together key players from business, education and government, we are laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and innovation.”
“What’s really exciting is inclusion at the heart of this initiative. We make sure that developing digital skills is accessible to all, giving people from every community the chance to engage with the opportunities that the digital economy offers.
“Whether it’s coding, cybersecurity, data analytics or artificial intelligence, this consortium is setting the stage for a new wave of talent that will drive the next chapter of our region’s economic story.”
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