News in Brief

Workshop for employers - ensuring the Skills Academy for IT meets your needs

e-skills UK is working in conjunction with a number of employers in the IT and Telecoms field to develop a business plan for a Skills Academy for IT, with the aim of enabling employers to take charge of skills needs in our sector. This ambitious exercise is part of the government supported National Skills Academy programme: you can read more about it at www.nationalskillsacademy.co.uk or on our website at www.e-skills.com/nsa.

We now have a further opportunity for employers to contribute directly to the development of the Academy's proposed products and services. We are in the process of creating working demonstration models of the key products and services and would like to open them up for discussion, feedback and amendment in a workshop. The workshop will include interactive sessions where you will be able to see demonstrations of the core functionality and follow typical user journeys. Academy team members - including the technical architect - will take you through the prototypes and discuss your feedback, including your thoughts on functionality, usability, look and feel.

We would also like to take the opportunity to ask you about your current use of training: how you access it, where you buy it from and how you find out about new products and services. This will help us ensure that the Academy reflects the way you prefer to purchase training. During the workshop, we will also explore the learning and qualifications that will be provided by the Academy. This session cover well-known subject areas together with specialist and future skills areas. We will also discuss modes of learning delivery including instructor-led learning and a range of online and virtual options.

We hope you will be able to join us at what promises to be an enjoyable, interactive event. We will very much value your contribution – and it will be an opportunity for you to influence the Academy and ensure that your needs as an employer of IT professionals are fully taken into account.
 
The workshop will be held on 12th May 2009 in central London from 10.00 until 2:30pm, including lunch. To register your interest, please e-mail Julie Feest, including you name, company's name, job role, telephone number, contact address and company's size.

If central London, or the date, are not convenient to you, please still get in touch if you are interested, as there will be other opportunities to engage.

Posted on 14 Apr 2009