A collective responsibility

As jobs become more digitised, it’s up to all of us to ensure that both today’s and tomorrow’s workforce are armed with the skills to succeed – whether that is in or outside the classroom’ EME

leadership skills within schools. This looks at how we can better support teachers with the implementation of a more holistic approach to education, and inspire the wider systemic change needed within British education to ensure young people are fully prepared for the future world of work.

Ada, meanwhile, is a specialist college that empowers students to become the digital pioneers of tomorrow through its apprenticeship programmes, which Salesforce. org is supporting through a grant scheme. Ada aims to ensure that young adults from all backgrounds can access jobs in the tech sector and ensures its curriculum matches industry standards. This includes the running of its high-quality apprenticeship scheme that gives students the opportunity to learn new skills through on-the-job training and extends learning beyond the classroom.

What is hugely inspiring about both organisations is that they understand the importance of skills training and helping young people become future ready. We must focus on closing the skills gap by looking at education inside and outside the classroom to ensure young people are gaining real- life experiences and access to the skills they need.

In the technology sector, there needs to be a collective responsibility to prepare our future workforce with necessary skills. This cannot sit with one company, one government or one educational institution. These changes need a major societal challenge, and require strong partnerships and collaboration between different organisations, industries, and political parties to effectively prepare the UK’S future workforce.

The fourth industrial revolution has triggered a wave of innovation and technology that is radically transforming our economy, our society and our daily lives. This is having huge ramifications for job roles. As jobs become more digitised, it’s up to all of us to ensure that both today’s and tomorrow’s workforce are armed with the skills to succeed – whether that is in or outside the classroom. If we all play our part, we’ll not only ensure the UK seizes the opportunity to close its skills gap, but also ensure that future generations are not left behind.