Foreword
The UK is in danger of exporting its IT industry, with grave future consequence. Developing nations are building deep competence and securing significant IT contracts from companies in the UK and elsewhere. The threat to future UK competitiveness is obvious, as British jobs are lost to new global competitors. In addition, employers across all sectors in the UK are suffering serious business impact due to IT skills shortages. To retain and increase our prosperity, we need to dramatically improve the availability and quality of technical and business skills relevant to the new economy. We need ready access to high quality, leading edge skills, at an affordable price.
No employer can make this happen alone. We must come together, along with the government, educators and others. We must continually assess our priorities, collaborate and take concerted action. This strategy describes a multi-year transformation programme, which can deliver:
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A radical boost to the image of IT careers, to attract enough of the best.
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Dramatically improve linkage with education and training, with students becoming highly employable in IT careers.
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A professionally qualified IT workforce, and an internationally-respected qualification structure.
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An effective process for authoritative predictive information on e-skills, valued by employers, government and educators.
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The skills pool to support UK leadership in e-business, including a general population competent and enthusiastic about the use of IT
But pervasive, structural change will not happen without active support from employers and government. Employers must work together with customers, suppliers and competitors on this agenda, committing time, resources and money. This must be underpinned by substantial, ongoing government investment. In this environment, the e-skills NTO can provide the leadership to deliver on the promises of the strategy.
I urge anyone who cares about IT skills to get involved
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Gareth Cadwallader
Chair, e-skills NTO
Individual companies play leadership roles
"Fixing the UK's shortage of IT related skills is a serious challenge. The IT Services business is in tremendous growth, and, like the rest of our industry, we are constantly challenged to access skills through hiring and retraining. Unless we increase the supply of skills, wages will rise to a point where they will cause companies to locate global operations elsewhere. Industry needs thousands more good people to seek careers in IT every year. We need them more productive for our businesses right away, with better ongoing training throughout their careers. I am delighted to lead the IT Industry Board of the e-skills NTO, so that IBM can play its part in making these changes for the UK."
Kevin Loosemore
Chief Executive, IBM UK and
Chair, IT Industry Board, e-skills NTO
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Business and Government unite
"In the recent government White Paper 'Opportunity for all in a world of change', we set out the government's commitment to develop a workforce with world beating information and communications technology skills. Working with the devolved administrations, the government wants business needs at the heart of the agenda for developing those skills throughout the United Kingdom. The e-skills NTO provides that industry perspective for the IT skills which are so critical to the future of the UK. We look to the National Training Organisation to play a key role in explaining and addressing employer needs. We look forward to working together to deliver this strategic plan, and make the UK a world-respected environment for e-business and the new economy."
The Rt Hon David Blunkett
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
The Rt Hon Stephen Byers
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
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