Guildford College to Invest Nearly £1m to Boost Surrey’s Economy and Close the Digital Skills Gap
Guildford College to Invest Nearly £1m to Boost Surrey’s Economy and Close the Digital Skills Gap
Guildford College, part of the Activate Learning group, is spearheading efforts to bolster Surrey’s economy by addressing the critical need for digital and creative skills.
With £800k funding from the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), Activate Learning is investing in a cutting-edge Digital Skills Centre at Guildford College. The establishment of the centre is a strategic response to both immediate and long-term skills shortages in the data, tech, and cyber sectors, showcasing the college’s commitment to cultivating the future talent necessary for sustaining growth and innovation in the region.
Addressing the Digital Skills Shortfall
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 estimated 178,000 to 234,000 unfilled data-related roles, highlighting a severe deficit in both technical and soft skills. With 2,500 unfilled vacancies in Surrey alone, local employers are struggling to find candidates with the required digital and tech expertise, hindering productivity and stifling innovation.
Comprehensive Programmes for All Learners
This pioneering initiative is designed to provide comprehensive programmes catering to career changers, young learners, and current employees seeking to upskill. The move is timely and aligns with recent findings which underscore the limited supply of data scientists from UK universities and the critical need for targeted training to bridge the skills shortages in this sector.
Neil Shoulder, Group Director of Guildford College, said:
“We’re 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 Surrey’s 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 – working with and providing local businesses with the skilled workforce they desperately need.”
Neil Shoulder, Group Director of Guildford College (left) and Gary Hudson, founder of iChooseLocal (right)
Enhancing Local Business Productivity
The centre will enhance local business productivity and support economic growth by providing a sustainable solution to the skills gap. By aligning educational outcomes with market demands, the centre prepares the local workforce to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving digital economy in the Surrey area.
Programmes offered at the centre will include a range of courses and qualifications aimed at all ages, including T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), as well as apprenticeships in digital and tech subject areas. These courses are meticulously crafted to meet the evolving demands of the industry, ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary skills to excel in a competitive job market.
Innovative AI Courses
Among the first courses offered by the Digital Skills Centre will be:
Practical AI in a Day: A four-hour course introducing AI technologies and the ‘prompt journey’ 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.
Collaboration with Local Employers
In partnership with iChooseLocal, the college is reaching out to local employers to engage in this transformative journey. This collaboration ensures the curriculum remains agile and responsive to industry needs, maintaining a pool of skilled professionals who can significantly contribute to the local economy.
Jon Adams, Chief Strategy Officer at Activate Learning, commented:
“Guildford College’s investment in a new Digital Skills Centre is a transformative step towards acknowledging and addressing the critical skills shortages in Surrey’s 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.”
