e-skills UK

The Tech Partnership
Formation April 1, 2003 (2003-04-01)
Type Sector skills council
Legal status Not-for-profit company limited by guarantee
Purpose IT training and participation in the UK
Location
  • 1 Castle Lane, Westminster, SW1E 6DR
Region served
UK
Chief Executive
 Karen Price OBE
Parent organization
 UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Affiliations National Skills Academy for IT, Skills for Business
Website Tech Partnership

The Tech Partnership (formerly "e-skills UK") is the United Kingdom (UK)'s sector skills council for the IT industry. This industry is also described as "Business and Information Technology" or "IT & Telecoms."

The not-for-profit organisation seeks to co-operatively address technology-related skills issues through evidence-based advice, services and programmes.[1] e-skills UK operates in the interests of employers for the purpose of ensuring that the UK is equipped to manage the worldwide digital marketplace.[1]

History

The UK IT industry is around 8% of the UK economy,[2] and covers 5.7% of the working population (IT and telecoms). 860,000 persons work in the IT industry itself, plus another approximately 680,000 persons who work in IT-related positions. "Continued adoption and exploitation of IT & Telecoms technologies could generate an additional £35 billion to the UK economy."[2]

e-skills UK existed in name before 2003 as one of the National Training Organisations (NTO). Their website, www.e-skills.com, has existed since at least the year 2000.

The National Training Organisations became the Sector Skills Councils (SSC) in April 2003. SSCs were started by the Sector Skills Development Agency, under the leadership of chief executive being Christopher Duff. The numbers of the organisations reduced to 23, and funding was increased. e-skills UK was one of the first Councils to be formed. e-skills UK was initially given a five-year licence to be the SSC for the IT and Telecoms industry, under the leadership of Karen Price.[3] In March 2005 e-skills UK was one of four SSCs to publish their first Sector Skills Agreement, nailing down what they hoped to realistically achieve; the other councils to publish agreements at that time were the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies (SEMTA), Skillset and ConstructionSkills.

Some of e-skills UK's progress is highlighted below.

Computer Clubs for Girls, or CC4G, began in South East England in 2002, designed to educate girls about the potential of technology. The pilot scheme started in 280 schools, with £2.8 million funding by SEEDA, and run by Melody Hermon. Computer Clubs for Girls was launched nationwide on 14 June 2005 for girls aged 10–14 at 3,600 schools, and cost £8.5 million. By 2006, around 1,000 schools had registered and 58,000 girls were in the scheme.

In the 2006 Birthday Honours Karen Price, chief executive officer of e-skills UK, received an Order of the British Empire (OBE).[3]

In 2009, e-skills UK was rated ‘outstanding’ in the process to re-license Sector Skills Councils.[3]

In August 2009, e-skills UK developed a £5.6 million scheme with the Open University – called Vital – to keep school teachers up-to-speed with technology in a form of continuing professional development (CPD). Vital was launched at the annual BETT trade show.[4]

In February 2010 e-skills UK joined forces with Google and BT to form the Getting British Business Online project (GBBO).[5]

Function

e-skills UK addresses the current and future needs of the Business and Information Technology sector in the UK. A major focus is the skills shortages in the UK IT industry. Another focus is whether the industry draws from the full cross-section of British society, not just certain demographics. One example is gender inequality: in 2004, 20% of the 600,000 workers in the industry were female, with only 12% of software designers being female; in 2006, women accounted for 16% of the workforce, with even fewer in the higher-bracket jobs; in 2010, only 15% of IT graduates, and 9% of computer science students, were female.

e-skills UK publishes for the industry. It publishes the e-skills Bulletin. It has also published the Regional Gap-UK report, to target skills gaps. The Technology Insights report details which skills are most needed.

e-skills UK has also developed sets of qualifications for IT workers. The group devised the e-skills passport and IT User Qualification (ITQ) qualifications, as its National Occupational Standards.

The e-skills UK Awards are hosted by the council every year in March.

Structure

e-skills UK is based in central London.

e-skills UK is a not-for-profit organisation. It is led by its constituency. Karen Price OBE is the chief executive officer.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Staff (2000–2012). "About e-skills UK". Business IT Guide - IT explained. e-skills UK. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 "IT & Telecoms Insights 2010". e-skills UK. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Karen Price OBE". University of Wolverhampton. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Home". vital. Open University. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Home". Getting British Business Online. Google. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.

External links

Video clips

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