West Midlands launches Digital Skills Consortium to boost regional tech workforce

During Birmingham Tech Week’s Digital Skills Symposium, the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium (WMDSC) has launched. The founding members, including TechWM, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), IBM, SF Technology, In4 Group, and AND Digital, are led by Victoria Pargetter-Garner, the Director of Digital Skills & Commercial Impact at TechWM.

The consortium was established in response to the pressing need for skilled technology professionals in the West Midlands. Given that digital technology is essential across all industries, the consortium’s goal is to address the regional digital skills gap, which will enable both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger organisations to prosper in a dynamically changing economic landscape.

Lord Kulveer Ranger, Chair of Digital Skills on the West Midlands Tech & Digital Advisory Board, has pledged to align the consortium’s objectives with the wider regional tech strategy. A task force comprising key consortium members will regularly convene to evaluate progress and provide updates to the WMCA, educational institutions, and training providers.

A core aim of the consortium is to forge a strong pipeline of digital talent by collaborating with colleges, universities, and specialised trainers. These partnerships will focus on delivering training in critical digital skills such as coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Notably, the consortium, in collaboration with IBM, is offering an assortment of complimentary digital training programmes, including an innovative ‘AI for All’ workshop, to fortify the West Midlands’ reputation as a cradle of digital expertise, benefiting local businesses of all sizes.

In addition to workforce development, the consortium is set to facilitate multi-sectoral collaboration by fostering an exchange of expertise and resources among businesses, educational entities, and government bodies. This will enable more effective utilisation of digital technologies, keeping local companies competitive on both a local and global scale.

Key stakeholders in this initiative include Birmingham Digital Futures, WMGC, TechUK, and WM5G. The consortium is also using partnerships with local academic institutions like the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology, ensuring the educational sector is integrally involved in enhancing the region’s digital landscape.

The consortium places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, aiming to make digital education widely accessible and engaging particularly underrepresented communities in the West Midlands, thus allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate in and benefit from the burgeoning digital economy.

During the launch, Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, highlighted the significance of this new venture:

“Our region’s growing digital sector is key to creating new job opportunities, especially for young people. WMCA is investing in training for vital skills like cyber, AI, coding, and green tech to help bridge the digital skills gap and connect people to the jobs of the future. Supporting young people into these careers is essential to tackling youth unemployment, and I’m committed to working with the tech sector to meet their needs. I also encourage businesses to step up by offering work experience, training, and apprenticeships to help young people get started.”

Victoria Pargetter-Garner also remarked on the consortium’s pivotal role:

“The launch of the Digital Skills Consortium is a pivotal moment for the West Midlands. This initiative not only positions our region at the cutting edge of technological advancement but also reinforces our commitment to creating a future-ready workforce. By bringing together key players from business, education, and government, we’re laying the foundation for sustained growth and innovation. What’s truly exciting is the inclusivity at the core of this initiative. We are making sure that digital skills development is accessible to all, giving people from every community the chance to engage with the opportunities that a digital economy offers. Whether it’s coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, or AI, this Consortium is setting the stage for a new wave of talent that will power the next chapter of our region’s economic story.”

Image from TechWM