Sixty secondary school children from across Tyne and Wear developed their employability skills at an IT careers event delivered last week by local employers from the technology sector, and organised by Sunderland Software City and e-skills UK.
Young people aged between 14 and 18 from five high schools and colleges in Sunderland participated in employability workshops led by local employers including Accenture and Orchidsoft. The sessions were enthusiastically received by the students, with two thirds saying they would consider a career in IT because of the event.
e-skills UK has been working with Sunderland Software City on an outreach programme to encourage young people in the region to consider the exciting range of careers available in IT, with a special focus on software. More than 30 schools in the North East have benefited from the programme so far, with upwards of 800 children participating in workshops since September.
At the workshops, students learned about the importance of making a good first impression with employers, as well as techniques for effective communication, networking, and professional relationship building. The young people put into practice what they had learned by observing mock interviews, before the employers were put in the hot seat at a lively Q & A session about job opportunities and new business start-up potential in the IT industry.
The careers events are supported by BigAmbition, an interactive careers advice website and advice hub designed to help students, teachers and advisers to get a real insight into IT careers in a variety of sectors, including travel, media, and retail. The site has its own dedicated section for the North East, which includes videos, games, and company overviews. Content was developed in collaboration with IT employers from the North East, who are striving to make the region an internationally recognised hub for technology, as part of plans for an industrial partnership for the information economy.
David Dunn, CEO of Sunderland Software City said: “Engaging with young people across the North East is essential if we are going to realise our plans to make the region a destination of choice for technology businesses, and a thriving hub for highly skilled workers. Attracting and developing local home grown talent into technology is crucial to secure the region’s economic growth and to create employment opportunities.”
Karen Price, CEO of e-skills UK said: “Through career outreach activities, the IT industry is taking a leading role in empowering young people to make informed choices about their futures. It’s essential that we attract young talent into IT if we are to address the skills shortage currently faced by the sector in the UK.”