Technology and digital transformation could unlock vast opportunity and growth for Wales, if we build the right skills base. Wales needs many more tech specialists and more people who are technologically capable – and the provision of skills needs to be as agile and dynamic as the industry itself. What are some possible solutions? Technology Connected Managing Director Avril Lewis sets out her thoughts – and explains how this question led her to create the Talent4tech event at Wales Tech Week.
Globally, the world of work continues to be increasingly based on and enabled by technology, something that was reported by The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 when it surveyed 803 companies employing more than 11.3 million workers from all world regions. Of these, more than 85% of these businesses identified new technologies and wider digital access as the trends most likely to drive transformation in their organisation.
These rapid changes have implications for how we educate our children and young people, but we urgently need to upskill the existing workforce, particularly those whose jobs may be at risk as the predicted digital disruption unfurls across the labour market.
How can we build technological capacity in the workforce?
We need to foster baseline ability and a flexible mindset. That means ensuring the workforce is confident with technology and empowered to engage in lifelong learning. It also means introducing those who have the potential and enthusiasm to become specialists in different technical fields.
For Welsh children, the new Curriculum for Wales aims to nurture this mindset and digital competency. There have also been long standing efforts to engage children and young people in tech in school and beyond, such as the Raspberry Pi foundation’s Code Clubs and university-run Technocamps. For those who are no longer at school and less engaged with the world of work, The Prince’s Trust in Wales and Microsoft along with several large employers have recently worked together to promote digital skills in Wales.
How are traditional pathways for specialists being modernised?
The traditional educational route is GCSEs, A-levels and an undergraduate computer science degree – but this pathway can struggle to keep up with the pace of technology.
Welsh universities have realised that degree curriculums need to reflect demand from industry, and many are offering a degree option with a year in these sectors and courses tailored to different areas of high demand such as software engineering and cyber security.
There are now more institutions providing courses that are closely linked with the reality of the workplace – for example Cardiff University’s National Software Academy (NSA), the University of South Wales (USW) National Cyber Security Academy and Cardiff Metropolitan University’s School of Technologies among others.
Degree apprenticeships in several tech (and engineering) fields – fully funded by the Welsh Government at most of Wales’ universities including Open University – combine a degree with work. For example, Cardiff Met University offers degree apprenticeships in its School of Technologies, in areas such as applied data science, cyber security and software engineering, combining employment with part-time study allowing the learner to earn and learn.
What role is there for further education?
The Further education sector is also crucial. A fantastic example is the work done by Coleg Gwent and Coleg Penybont/Bridgend College, who teamed up with Admiral, Fujitsu, Thales and Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water to provide a cyber security skills programme.
Shorter courses are also important for those who need greater flexibility, including those seeking a career change into tech, and there are different opportunities available.
For example, the Welsh Government’s Personal Learning Account allows people over the age of 19 to study approved courses in digital and green skills part-time and flexibly through further education colleges.
What other short courses are available?
Industry body FinTech Wales introduced a fast-track 10-week coding academy, endorsed by Admiral, Principality Building Society, Deloitte and Hodge Bank, for people from a variety of career backgrounds. They have collaborated with economic development charity Chwarae Teg, which translates as ‘Fair Play’, to provide online technical training to women.
Some universities also offer ‘micro-credentials’ and there are schemes developed by private companies such as the Amazon Web Services re/Start 12-week programme, and Google Career Certificates which provide relatively low-cost online flexible training programmes with financial aid available to some through the Department of Work and Pensions.
How important is collaboration between public and private sectors?
It’s crucial. While there are public-private sector collaborations in place in Wales, a more joined-up strategic approach is needed to create and deliver dynamic digital skills programmes.
Greater collaboration is still needed between small and large organisations. There is a great opportunity for initiatives such as shared apprenticeships or learning schemes across multiple employers.
Both UK and Welsh governments support tech skills development but there is a risk that funding decisions may not be in sync. It’s important to maximise the efficiency of funding to avoid piecemeal decisions, duplication and overlap. As well as funding educational institutions, more financial support should be directed to employers, who know what vendor/specialist delivery and certification is available specifically for their business and can act quickly.
What are the opportunities?
To boost economic growth and address many societal challenges, the country needs to maximise tech talent, which inspired us to create our “Talent4Tech” event as part of our Wales Tech Week summit.
For organisations, the day is a chance to learn about recruiting and retaining talent. For potential tech workers – pupils from year nine and up, students, graduates, career changers, returners, former armed forces personnel and anybody else that is tech-curious – the summit is an opportunity to find inspiration for training and highly skilled, well-paid careers and training.
