Current Activities

MaP>IT (Mature People into IT)

The e-skills NTO and ACER (Association of Colleges in the Eastern Region) are launching a new ‘Mature People into IT’ (MaP>IT) project for the East of England Region, to tackle long-term skills shortages in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by training people over 40, in a wide range of skills.

The new MaP>IT project builds on the success of three previous European Social Fund (ESF)-financed MaP>IT regional projects. Last year, these provided free IT training for more than five hundred mature construction and engineering professionals.

Open to Eastern Region’s mature employees of small companies and the self-employed, MaP>IT training costs as little as £25 if you use your ILA (Individual Learning Account information available at www.dfee.gov.uk/ila and www.my-ila.com ). It’s very flexible and designed to help both the employer and the individual solve IT skills problems.

MaP>IT can be used in many different ways. An employer can increase existing employees’ value to the company by training them to take on new ICT roles. Individuals can substantially improve their employment opportunities with their current employer, within their own industry or in the ICT sector by gaining competence and qualifications in key ICT skills.

Courses start in September and there are eight training packages available:

• Standard personal computer usage including word-processing, spreadsheets, file-handling; leading to a European Computer Driving Licence.
• e-business awareness and specialist courses
• A plus, for desktop support
• Network set-up and administration
• CAD/CAM, for design and production engineers
• Programming, for specialist computer programmes
• IT Project Management
• Self-employed and entrepreneurship skills

The training is available locally and as either classroom or Internet courses, to fit in with business and other commitments. Initial assessments, help with choosing the right course options and career guidance are also available.

ACER will be the lead partner for the project, co-ordinating training programmes of its 35 member FE and Sixth Form Colleges in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Other organisations closely involved in the project include Third Age Employment Network, Thames Valley University and Wrinklies Direct.

For information on course content, location and availability and for full details on eligibility and initial assesssment, contact ACER by phone on , email at .

We hope to be able to announce arrangements for other MaP>IT projects in other UK regions later this year.

e-skills NTO Contact: John O’Sullivan on or