School leavers should stay plugged in to tech
All that time your teen has spent on screens wasn’t wasted – their tech savvy could offer them a bright future in Wales. Avril Lwis, managing director of EST net, explains why school and college leaders have gained vital skills as a result of growing up as ‘tech natives’
Those who represent what is arguably Wales’ most tech-savvy generation have now received their A-level results. Congratulations to them all.
Hopefully, these “digital natives” have all been rewarded for their hard work over the past two years, but what I am certain of is that they will all have exciting career paths ahead of them if they embrace the opportunities that Wales’ technology sector is enabling.
The majority have grown up using smartphones, never more than a click of a tablet away from the information and entertainment they seek. We refer to them as digital natives, the generation with a seemingly instinctive grasp of technology.
Yet I wonder how many would be amazed to learn that much of the technology that they take for granted might not be possible without Welsh innovation.
Or that, regardless of the industries they plan to enter in the future, their affinity with technology will be one of their greatest assets?
From the advanced manufacturing and healthcare sectors to the creative and tourism industries, every business and practically every element of our lives, is – and will increasingly be – driven by technology. The Welsh technology sector is going from strength to strength, from the increasing number of entrepreneurial new-starts to the multinationals with their global reach.
Results day allowed us to celebrate the achievements and futures of those who are about to transition from schools and colleges to apprenticeships, university and their first steps on the career ladder. Their futures are limitless, but I encourage them to realise that the exciting futures they dream of exist here in Wales.
It’s true that the pace of technological development and the seemingly daily revolutions in artificial intelligence, automation, big data and the cloud, mean that we don’t know what the exact nature of the jobs of tomorrow will be.
However, what we do know is that, regardless of the industry members of this generation choose, their technological skills will be key to whichever career path they follow. This is something that we at the EST net, the network for the Welsh technology industry, know as fact. And we’re not alone.
In its Economic Action Plan, the Welsh Government has set out its approach to supporting key strategic areas of the economy. It specifically states that automation, artificial intelligence and other forms of digitalisation are already transforming industries.
Some may feel that such trends are a risk to jobs, but this is not the view this generation should take. In fact, the opposite is true. Time and again, the legacy of technology has proven that innovation creates new opportunities. Twenty-five years ago a career as a web developer would have seemed niche; today it is a global industry. The fact is that innovation creates opportunities – it’s how we embrace those changes that makes the difference.
This too is noted by the Welsh Government in its Employability Plan, which states that while such developments present challenges, they also provide further opportunities for innovation and growth.
But what does that mean for those who have achieved their A-level goals?
It means be bold, be brave, embrace the opportunities that are presented to you. Regardless of whether you plan on a career in finance or the creative industries, you must recognise that becoming the candidate that your future employer is looking for means becoming the candidate with the skills they need.
For example, Go Compare, arguably one of the most successful and widely recognised Welsh brands, isn’t just looking for such candidates, it’s working to develop them. This homegrown fintech company has launched the Go Further Academy, creating opportunities for young people to achieve their potential and secure a future in the industry.
But what if you don’t know what industry you want to work in? That’s fine too. A Welsh tech start-up, mi Future, has created an app that delivers personalised career opportunities to the hands of young people leaving education, and those who are not in employment, education or training. Its mission is to mobilise 100,000 young people towards employability and prosperity.
Now, if you’ve recently received your results, or you know someone who has, ask yourself this – why wouldn’t you pursue a career in the Welsh tech industry?
We at the EST net are asking this question on behalf of the Welsh tech industry that we serve. Our goal isn’t just to show you the opportunities that are open to you, we’re here to enable you to secure them.
Through our EST net Next Generation programme, we offer undergraduates the means to develop the skills our industry seeks and launch their careers to find sought-after work placement and employment opportunities. Our EST net NG Tech Prize aims to help young people who have shown outstanding commitment, enthusiasm and interest in the technology field to fulfil their talent and ambition.
We also recognise that if we are to truly help inspire the next generation, we must speak to them as early as possible. Having partnered with Careers Wales, we have created a series of webinars for schools to highlight the importance of STEM skills, and the exciting careers they enable, by showcasing the accomplishments of young people who have already achieved success in our ndustry.
Across the country, businesses and research institutions are making advancements that will truly shape all our futures, and they are calling out for the next generation to join them.
What I’m asking of those who have their A-level results is that they realise the opportunities in front of them. Your generation is primed to be the catalyst for the future success of the Welsh tech industry and our wider economy. The chance is yours for the taking.
Congratulations again for all you have achieved. I look forward to seeing how you will shape our future.
■ EST net, created in 2011, is a network of technology organisations whose members design, develop, manufacture or integrate electronic and software technologies. Its affiliate members provide the industry with professional services, while academic members provide the industry with good-quality graduates and opportunities to collaborate on research and innovation. For more information, visit the website www.estnet.uk.net/ about-the-estnet