How Leeds is addressing the Digital Skills Gap

Generation's Jess Sewter looks at how the Leeds tech community is battling a growing digital skills gap, and how YOU can help address barriers to tech employment.

The Leeds tech community is thriving, with 2022 a record year for financial results. As a sector, we’ve enjoyed a fivefold increase in investment over 2020, and we’re attracting top talent too – with over 50,000 people currently working in tech businesses across the city, large and small. In July 2022, tech hiring accounted for a fifth of all available roles in Leeds, with over 2,500 jobs available. 

Leeds is a place of tech innovation and collaboration and is attracting more and more big names in tech to settle here. But sadly that isn’t the whole picture. 

Unemployment in the city is high, at 4.6% in 2022, compared to a UK average of 3.8% in the same year. And unsurprisingly, unemployment is disproportionately affecting those from under represented and low social mobility groups. Young people, those from ethnic minority groups, those with disabilities or without degrees are twice or more as likely to be and/or remain unemployed. For example, with traditional recruiting channels only a 5th of tech sector workers are women. 1 in 8 of those who do find work are still in poverty.

Why does the digital skills gap matter?

This digital skills gap has a direct impact on employers, and on anyone who has a stake in the success of our city. While there are lots of jobs available, tech employers are still finding it tough to find the right people with the right skills and knowledge to fill immediate demand.

But this challenge is also an opportunity. Reaching people in under represented and low social mobility groups allows employers to tap into talent that competitors might be ignoring. It gives you the opportunity to build a talented and diverse workforce that truly reflects the community and customer base you serve and are a part of. And of course, it brings new perspectives and fresh approaches into your workforce.

How can we address the digital skills gap?

We can meet this opportunity by focusing on three areas: awareness, training, and employment through partnerships. 

1. Awareness

Here in Leeds, a lot is already being done to raise awareness of how we can bring more diverse and under represented talent into our tech community. 

Just look at the great work being done by Ahead Partnership, a non-profit who connects employers with young people through inspiring events – everything from workplace visits to time into schools showcasing the tech industry. Leeds Libraries are targeting even younger talent, with a Code Club for 7 to 11 year olds. And Leeds City Council’s Digital Careers Festival regularly gives digital employers the chance to showcase the opportunities available.

We’re also seeing organisations like Bruntwood SciTech bringing together providers for employers to see how they can access new tech talent from the region with their Skills Marketplace. I’ll be coming back to that in more detail in an upcoming article. 

2. Training

Encouragingly, universities and colleges are broadening their digital offer and range of programmes. We’re also seeing more local apprenticeship providers offering quality tech programmes at higher levels, such as The Coders Guild. Skills bootcamps are on the rise as the Government now recognises these as a viable way to address the skills gap. Here in Leeds, there is some great work being done in this area by Generation  and Northcoders.

3. Employment through partnerships

While specific schemes are effective, we also know that collaboration is everything – especially in a business community as connected as ours. To truly address the skills gap we need to work together as a city to make this happen and that tangible actions make things happen! We’re firm believers that good partnerships can help solve the biggest problems we face as a city.

How can I get involved?

At Generation, we both address a skills need and digital inclusion by supporting those facing significant barriers into employment and placing them into high demand, low-supply tech and data jobs. Of course, we’re not the only ones working in this area. Diverse & Equal also specifically targets and supports those from under-represented groups through their training bootcamps and She Does Digital and WILD Digital do great work to encourage more women into tech. 

As a city, we are addressing the barriers to tech of those 18+ and with previous work experience. These people often come with rich work and life experience that can be applied to any digital setting. The average age of learners on Generation bootcamps for example is 28, and 25% are aged 30 and over. 

So, if you’re part of the tech community in Leeds, or you have a stake in building a thriving tech economy in our city, there are at least three things you can do today to address your skills gap. (and Generation can help you with all of them!).

  • Recognise that we need to work together as a sector. Reach out to others in the tech community to tap into the talent we have here. 
  • Think longer term. More tech businesses are setting up supportive structures to bring in and grow their own tech teams. We need more to do the same. This can be tough for start ups, but remember that in 18-24 months’ time those entry level tech starters will be the mid-level seniors that you need today. Today’s entry level talent can develop into the engine of your business with the right support.
  • Partner with an organisation who can help you to grow sustainably and in a socially responsible way. The right partner can solve your recruitment challenges, help you to achieve your business goals, and create a pipeline of diverse talent that will better meet the needs of all of the communities in your city. 

Find out more about how you can support Generation in closing the digital skills gap on their website.

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