A new Digital Skills Centre has opened at Guildford College as part of wider efforts to bolster digital and creative skills in Surrey.
National figures show there are currently 2,500 vacancies in data-related roles across the county.
Activate Learning – which runs Guildford College – is working with local employers and strategic bodies like Surrey County Council to address immediate and long-term skills shortages in the data, tech, and cyber sector.
The new cutting-edge Digital Skills Centre at Guildford College is key to those efforts. It has been developed with ยฃ800,000 funding from the Department for Educationโs Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF)
Why is Guildford’s Digital Skills Centre needed?
Digital skills have become fundamental across nearly every industry in Surrey. Yet there is a notable shortfall in local talent.
Nationally, the UK faces a significant challenge, with an estimatedย 178,000 to 234,000 unfilled data-related roles.
Withย 2,500 unfilled vacancies in Surrey alone, local employers are struggling to find candidates with the required digital and tech expertise. This hinders productivity and stifles innovation in a growing sector which is key to Surrey’s future economy.
Leaders at Guildford College say the investment in a new Digital Skills Centre showcases its commitment to cultivating the future talent necessary for sustaining growth and innovation in the region.
Neil Shoulder, Group Director of Guildford College, pictured below (left) said: โWeโre delighted to be launching the new Digital Skills Centre at Guildford College, which demonstrates our commitment to tackling the digital skills shortage in Surrey head-on.
“By offering targeted courses and training, we are ensuring that Surreyโs economy remains dynamic and competitive in the global market.
“This initiative not only addresses immediate needs in the digital sector but also supports long-term growth and innovation โ working with and providing local businesses with the skilled workforce they desperately need.”
Available courses at the Digital Skills Centre
The Digital Skills Centre will provide comprehensive programmes for career changers, young learners, and current employees seeking to upskill.
Courses and qualifications are aimed at all ages. This includesย T-Levelsย and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), plus apprenticeshipsย in digital and tech subjects.
Courses will also meet the evolving demands of the industry, ensuring students have the necessary skills to excel in a competitive job market.
Among the first courses offered will be:
- Practical AI in a Day: A four-hour course introducing AI technologies and the โprompt journeyโ concept.
- Applying AI in Your Business: An eight-hour course over two days that builds on this foundation with case studies and hands-on experience in using AI for data analytics and document production.
Visit the AI for Business page on the Activate Learning website to discover more.
Digital Skills Centre and local employers
Activate Learning says that Surrey businesses are key to the success of the Digital Skills Centre.
It is working withย iChooseLocal to reach out to local employers to engage in the programme. This will ensure the curriculum remains agile and responsive to industry needs.
It will also maintain a pool of skilled professionals who can significantly contribute to the local economy.
Jon Adams, Chief Strategy Officer at Activate Learning, said: “Guildford Collegeโs investment in a new Digital Skills Centre is a transformative step towards acknowledging and addressing the critical skills shortages in Surreyโs digital and tech sectors.
“By working with employers, we are ensuring that the talent needed for the local economy to grow and thrive is there and that Surrey remains at the forefront of technological advancement and competitiveness.
“This targeted use of LSIF funding will enable us to deliver bespoke training programmes that not only address the immediate skills shortages but also align with the future demands of the tech industry, ensuring sustainable economic growth and innovation in the region.”
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