A unique digital skills powerhouse is set to transform talent diversity in the Northwest’s tech sector by breaking the barriers faced by people from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds and promoting 450 people each year to careers in digital technology.
Skills City includes leading digital technology bootcamp academies that work with employers at all levels to create a clear path to jobs and the recruitment of diverse talent.
The company is based at HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology at MediaCityUK, and wants to provide fairer access to digital and technological career starts, create the most diverse technology talent pool and thus be a magnet for technology companies to move to the region.
Women are still largely underrepresented in the technology sector (17 percent in the UK). To balance gender inequality, Skills City has promised that 50 percent of learners will be represented by women.
People with a BAME background, financially disadvantaged people or those on career breaks like returning to working mothers are also encouraged to explore the possibilities of Skills City as an alternative way to find work in the technology field.
The Skills City Learner Charter is committed to securing qualified job vacancies for all cohorts. A dedicated team of employer loyalty managers and community skills coaches will work in all large and small companies in the region. All learners complete an employability program and industrial projects as part of their training.
HOST by IN4.0 has a long history of skill development and offers world-class training in six technology areas: cyber, data analytics, immersive technologies, cloud engineering, software engineering and creative digital media.
Technology training is provided by Skills City’s academies, including Raytheon Cyber Academy, Amazon Web Services (AWS) re / Start, University of Salford, Unity 3D Academy, and Black Codhers, a specialized software engineering academy for black women. All Skills City academies have professional industry certification and transition to level 3 and 4 apprenticeships.
At the heart of Skills City is a commitment to removing the current barriers that impact diversity and inclusivity throughout the learning journey, from training and qualification to securing a job in the tech industry. Skills City’s team of experts helps employers achieve their diversity and inclusion ambitions.
This unique offering includes outreach programs for BAME and disadvantaged communities in Greater Manchester and the North West, helping individuals who otherwise would not have fair access to opportunities to begin careers in technology.
Another program that will soon be launched from Skills City is Kickstart Digital. Working with Salford City Council, it will enable young people employed under the government’s six-month Kickstart training program to develop digital skills.
The Covid-19 pandemic has severely hit Salford residents aged 16 to 24. 2,785 are now in receipt of unemployment-related benefits, up from 1,400 since March 2020.
Not only will this help companies grow in Salford, but it will create life changing opportunities and hopes for young people, boost their careers and open up job opportunities.
Mo Isap, CEO of IN4.0 Group, said: “Founding Skills City was a very personal mission, a first of its kind in Skills City, Greater Manchester. Our goal is to build a Skills City-Hub within the entire technology of the region as a catalyst to eradicate inequality and digital exclusion.
“Diversity and inclusion are part of our DNA at HOST and we see Skills City as a bridge between education and responsible employers. We understand that providing training courses is not enough, especially now that unemployment is at an all-time high and even though many career paths have been shut down, digital skills are still in demand. We will begin recruiting in April and building a community of tech talent from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to support them on their path to employment.
“By working with government, local authorities and employment partners, we aim to help people across the Greater Manchester area, the North and the UK overcome the barriers to new technical careers.”
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Salford is committed to becoming a digitally inclusive city where no one, young or old, is left behind. Nobody should be excluded from opportunities in the latest industries or in everyday life just because they cannot get online or feel unsafe with the latest technology.
“Skill City is an integral part of our Digital Everyone quest to ensure local residents have access to cutting-edge training and development to help them reach their full potential and create a better, fairer Salford.”
Salford City Council chairman Tom Stannard said the pandemic had accelerated digital adoption, stressing that digital skills are just as important today as math or English.
“Salford is the second largest digital and technology hub for business after London, and therefore has the fastest growing economy in Greater Manchester.
“Local businesses have shown that they can adapt to rapidly changing and challenging circumstances and use digital technology – from virtual reality to online transactions – to open up new markets and reduce costs. By investing in cutting-edge skills now, we will develop the workforce needed to grow these industries and not only fuel our recovery but also transform our future economies, ”said Tom.
Stephen Wild, Managing Director of MediaCityUK said, “Our MediaCityUK community includes some of the fastest growing and most dynamic companies in the country. Therefore, the ability to quickly attract and recruit trained technology talent is critical to this rapid development sector. The graduates of Skills City ultimately offer all MediaCityUK companies the opportunity to achieve their digital and technical recruitment goals and to offer fantastic employment opportunities to local, diverse talent. “