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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

New website sets out the starting grid for IT skills development

Employers, IT professionals and training providers across the nation are invited to be the first wave of people to register their interest in the National Skills Academy for IT by visiting its newly-launched website

Employers, IT professionals and training providers across the nation are invited to be the first wave of people to register their interest in the National Skills Academy for IT by visiting its newly-launched website.


The National Skills Academy for IT is being created by the sector, for the sector. Supported by employers such as Accenture, BA, BT, Cable & Wireless, The Carphone Warehouse, HP, IBM, Logica, Microsoft, Oracle, Qedis, Sainsbury’s, SFW, Vodafone and Whitbread, the Skills Academy aims to address the development needs of IT professionals in the UK.


It has established a website to provide information about plans to bring together the best of the UK’s education and training for IT professionals, making it easy for them to understand different courses and qualifications and to gain recognition for their skills. In a step towards the Skills Academy’s formal launch scheduled for autumn 2010, the website will allow individuals, employers and training providers to register their interest.


For employers and IT professionals, the National Skills Academy for IT will make it easy to find high quality professional learning, including a comprehensive portfolio of industry-valued courses and options for gaining industry recognised certifications and qualifications.


For IT training organisations, the National Skills Academy for IT has outlined how they can become licensed National Skills Academy delivery partners. It is the Skills Academy’s ambition to work in close collaboration with these partners to strengthen the national IT talent pool and help businesses to compete in a global market.


As more organisations turn to technology to boost productivity and performance, UK employers increasingly need highly skilled, multidisciplinary technology professionals. Everyone with an interest in building the strength of the IT workforce has something to gain from the National Skills Academy for IT.


• employers will be able to help their IT professionals develop to their full potential more easily and cost effectively
• IT professionals will be able to boost their skills and demonstrate their expertise, and so accelerate their careers
• education and training providers will be able to grow their IT professional development business. 


The National Skills Academy for IT is being developed through a collaboration of leading employers, and is gathering input from other interested employers, IT professionals and training providers.


Karen Price, Chief Executive of e-skills UK explains: “The National Skills Academy for IT will offer a unique opportunity for employers to take collective responsibility for the skills of the IT workforce. I believe this will play a major role in helping the UK become a world leader in IT in the coming years.


For more details please www.itskillsacademy.ac.uk