E-skills UK
Encyclopedia
e-skills UK is the UK's sector skills council
for the IT industry, technically described as Business and Information Technology.
e-skills UK existed in name before 2003 as one of the 73 National Training Organisations (NTO). The funding for these schemes was increased, and the numbers of the organisations reduced to 23 when they became Sector Skills Councils in April 2003. e-skills UK was one of the first two to be formed. SSCs were started by the Sector Skills Development Agency, with the chief executive being Christopher Duff. e-skills UK was initially given a five year licence to be the SSC for the IT and Telecoms industry.
In March 2005 it was one of four SSCs to publish their first Sector Skills Agreement (SSA), along with SEMTA
, Skillset
and ConstructionSkills. These agreements nailed down what they hoped to realistically achieve.
Computer Clubs for Girls had begun in South East England
in 2002 as a pilot scheme in 280 schools, funded by SEEDA with £2.8 million. It was designed to educate girls about the potential of technology. It was launched nationwide on 14 June 2005 for girls aged 10-14 at 3,600 schools, and cost £8.5 million, and run by Melody Hermon. By 2006 around 1,000 schools had registered. By 2006 58,000 girls were in the scheme.
In the 2006 Birthday Honours Karen Price received an OBE.
In August 2009 it developed a £5.6 million scheme with the Open University
called Vital to keep school teachers up-to-speed with technology, which was launched at the annual BETT
trade show
. It was a form of continuing professional development
(CPD).
In February 2010 it joined forces with Google and BT to form the Getting British Business Online project (GBBO).
.
Sector Skills Councils
Sector Skills Councils are state-sponsored, employer-led organisations that cover specific economic sectors in the United Kingdom. They have four key goals:* to reduce skills gaps and shortages* to improve productivity...
for the IT industry, technically described as Business and Information Technology.
History
The UK IT industry is around 5% of the UK economy, and covers 5.7% of the working population (IT and telecoms). 860,000 work in the IT industry itself and around 680,000 work in IT-related work.e-skills UK existed in name before 2003 as one of the 73 National Training Organisations (NTO). The funding for these schemes was increased, and the numbers of the organisations reduced to 23 when they became Sector Skills Councils in April 2003. e-skills UK was one of the first two to be formed. SSCs were started by the Sector Skills Development Agency, with the chief executive being Christopher Duff. e-skills UK was initially given a five year licence to be the SSC for the IT and Telecoms industry.
In March 2005 it was one of four SSCs to publish their first Sector Skills Agreement (SSA), along with SEMTA
Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies
The Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies or SEMTA is one of 25 organisations for the whole UK, under the umbrella organisation Skills for Business.-History:...
, Skillset
Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council which supports skills and training for people and businesses to ensure the UK creative media industries competitive and productive.-History:It was founded 1992 and is jointly funded by industry and government...
and ConstructionSkills. These agreements nailed down what they hoped to realistically achieve.
Computer Clubs for Girls had begun in South East England
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
in 2002 as a pilot scheme in 280 schools, funded by SEEDA with £2.8 million. It was designed to educate girls about the potential of technology. It was launched nationwide on 14 June 2005 for girls aged 10-14 at 3,600 schools, and cost £8.5 million, and run by Melody Hermon. By 2006 around 1,000 schools had registered. By 2006 58,000 girls were in the scheme.
In the 2006 Birthday Honours Karen Price received an OBE.
In August 2009 it developed a £5.6 million scheme with the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
called Vital to keep school teachers up-to-speed with technology, which was launched at the annual BETT
BETT
BETT or The BETT show is an annual trade show in the United Kingdom that showcases the use of information technology in education. Founded in 1985, it has expanded to fill both the National and Grand Halls at the Olympia exhibition centre in London, England...
trade show
Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
. It was a form of continuing professional development
Continuing Professional Development
Continuing professional development or Continuing professional education is the means by which people maintain their knowledge and skills related to their professional lives.-CPD research:...
(CPD).
In February 2010 it joined forces with Google and BT to form the Getting British Business Online project (GBBO).
Function
It addresses the skills shortages in the UK IT industry, and whether the industry draws from the full cross-section of British society, and not just certain demographics. By 2004 20% of workers in the industry were female, with only 12% of software designers being female, out of the 600,000 workers in the industry. By 2006 women accounted for 16% of the workforce, with even fewer in the higher-bracket jobs. By 2010, only 15% of IT graduates, and 9% of computer science students, were female.Publications
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.Qualifications
It devised the e-skills passport and IT User Qualification (ITQ) qualifications, its National Occupational StandardsNational Occupational Standards
National Occupational Standards specify UK standards of performance that people are expected to achieve in their work, and the knowledge and skills they need to perform effectively.-Definition:...
.