Report aims to give region’s teens skills needed to work in growing tech sector

ENSURING more young people have better pathways into digital careers has the potential to address the South West’s chronic economic challenges, a new report says.

The report, The Tech Frontier: Shaping the Future of the South West Peninsula, is funded by The Hg Foundation and is part of the work of the University of Exeter’s South West Social Mobility Commission.

The report says the technology workforce in the South West is set to expand by 2% from 2022 to 2027, outpacing the growth rate of any other sector. It explores the tech skills mismatch in the region and develops recommendations to ensure the benefits of this growth are equitably distributed, particularly to young people from poorer backgrounds.

The tech industry is crucial to the South West, with just two tech employers surpassing the entire output of the region’s fishing industry. The region is home to nearly 18,000 tech companies supporting 170,000 employees.

However, the South West had the lowest uptake of level three IT qualifications in England (5%) as of 2019. The lack of available talent has been identified as the biggest barrier for tech companies in the region.

Lack of awareness and interest among young people, lack of employer engagement in schools and colleges, lack of knowledge about tech careers among teachers and the rural geography of the region are key barriers hindering the development of the region’s tech workforce, the report notes. Boosting skills and modernising methods of employment and recruitment is one way to tackle the low wages and productivity in the peninsula, experts have said.

The report has eight key recommendations:

» Hands-on tech work experience opportunities for year 10 students

» Interactive tech workshops in secondary schools, led by industry professionals

» Dedicated tech days at schools where lessons link each subject to technology

» Sixth forms should offer level 4/5 tech foundation courses, supported by local colleges and universities

» All colleges need to provide level 4/5 tech foundation courses in the most indemand tech areas

» A mentorship programme pairing tech professionals with students to guide their career development and skill enhancement

» A tech talent marketplace – quarterly databases of who tech employers need and who tech educators have

» Coaching for pupils on how to use LinkedIn effectively for recruitment purposes.

The principal author of the report, Henry Jones, a strategy consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, said: “By addressing the critical skills gap and fostering a more inclusive tech ecosystem, the South West peninsula can secure its position as a leading hub of innovation and opportunity.

“With effort and collaboration, the region can cultivate a thriving tech industry that benefits all. This will help the economy and empower the next generation with valuable skills and opportunities.”

Professor Lee Elliot Major, from the University of Exeter, who leads the South West Social Mobility Commission, added: “Developing digital-related qualifications that match the needs of employers at a regional level and increasing their uptake amongst students has real potential to address the South West’s business and social mobility challenges.”

James Turner, Hg Foundation chief executive, said: “We hope this report will be a catalyst for a collective effort to open up the world of tech to young people in the South West. We want the future tech workforce to be as diverse, vibrant and inclusive as the world it aims to serve.”