Around the UK - North West

Led by our North West representative, e-skills UK has been working with key partners in the region to deliver on the objectives outlined in our strategic plan for England.

Latest LMI

• There are 10,935 workplaces in the IT & Telecoms industry in the North West – 92% of which are IT companies and 8% Telecoms. In the IT industry in the North West, a small number of large firms employ a large proportion of the workforce; micro firms make up 94% of the number of IT & Telecoms businesses, but just 29% of the actual workforce. By contrast, firms with 200 or more employees make up just 1% of the total number of workplaces, but employ 37% of the workforce.
• 132,000 people work in the IT & Telecoms workforce in the North West. This comprises around 75,000 in the IT & Telecoms industry itself, and a further 57,000 working as IT or Telecoms professionals in other industries.
• The profile of IT & Telecoms professionals in the region is an ageing one. The proportion aged 16-29 has dropped from 26% in 2001 to 22% in 2007, as the sector favours experienced workers from other sectors over young recruits from the education system.
• The IT & Telecoms workforce in the North West is highly qualified. 54% of IT & Telecoms professionals hold a qualification at level 4 or higher, compared to 30% for the overall working population in the region. Moreover, only 5% of those IT & Telecoms professionals are not qualified to level 2, compared to 14% of the North West’s employed workforce.
  

For the latest analysis of key labour market intelligence specific to the North West, please refer to the 'Technology Counts England: IT and Telecoms Insights 2008' report. The report provides an in depth understanding of the existing IT & Telecoms landscape in the nine English regions, with forecasts of the future based on the best available global intelligence.

ICT policy for the region

The ICT strategy for the North West of England seeks to influence the behaviour of both organisations and people to secure greater awareness, increase skills levels and harness
the benefits of ICT in the North West.

Last modified: 12 Oct 2009