Business Info - Issue 140

businessinfomag.uk magazine 42 AUDIO-VISUAL WORKPLACE Wireless Enterprise,Voice & Data Solutions. @samsungbusiness www.Samsung.com/business Specialists in Business Class Internet Connectivity, SIP and Voice over IP. @SpitfireUpdates www.spitfire.co.uk Swyx’s Unified Communications solutions offer a choice of in-house or cloud-based solutions that can be tailored to the needs of SMEs. @Swyx_EN www.swyx.com Work Faster, Tidier, Smarter with our fantastic range of cable management solutions, power modules and monitor arms! @ABL_UK www.abl-uk.com Disruptive power, data and AV distributions systems for retail, office and data centres. www.burland.com for details of our USPs that will change the way you specify. @BurlandTS www.burland.com KAB Seating’s range of Office Chairs offers something for every environment. Offering ergonomic solutions to promote good posture and back care. @CVGRP www.kabseating.com Through innovative technology development, NEC Display Solutions offers the industry’s widest portfolio of Display and Projection solutions on the market. @NEC_Display_UK www.nec-displays.co.uk We create innovative, interactive touch technology designed to enhance collaboration and communication in the classroom and meeting space. @AvocorTech www.avocor.com COMMUNICATIONS t o p u k r AV Business Systems. business.panasonic.co.uk/visual CSR course. This group feels closer to 40%, which pupil Amy puts down to the approach of the mentors: “I wasn’t that confident – I didn’t really understand it,” she says, “but coming here has developed my love for computer science. In lessons you just learn the basic ideas, but the mentors go fully into details and make you want to learn more about it.” It’s all about the experience Jill Baker, head of George Green’s School, says it’s the enrichment of experiences that her school needs from its wealthy neighbours, not cash: “I never ask the companies for money. That, it seems to me, is not the best approach for fostering positive relationships.We’re not out there with a begging bowl; it’s about forming relationships for experiences that benefit our students.” The hope is that volunteers will inspire the youngsters about their future careers, for instance studying computer science at university or going on to a digital apprenticeship at Morgan Stanley: “There are bright students here, as there are at many schools,” says Mike, “and this is a case of showing them this aspiration is achievable.” The view of pupil Yahya sums it up: “Seeing people who work in computing in the real world puts it into perspective. I’m going to do A level computer science and see where I go from there.” Plugging the digital skills gap The digital skills gap, and concern that not enough is being done to rectify it, has long been a topic of national debate. According to government figures 1 , around two thirds of large companies and half of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK are experiencing a shortage of skilled IT workers. A recent report from the CBI 2 stated that companies can play a vital part in smoothing the transition from school to work and in helping young people to achieve. Worryingly, its latest figures show a dip in the number of firms who have forged links with educational institutions. Volunteers needed Getting industry involved in schools is a major part of The National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), an £84 million, government-backed initiative to upskill 8,000 computer science teachers and boost the number of young people studying the subject. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT is a member of the consortium behind the NCCE, and one of its responsibilities is to engage industry in schools. BCS Director of Education Julia Adamson says: “We want to encourage industry to get involved, from volunteering, running coding clubs or visiting local schools to talk about their own experiences, just like the team at Morgan Stanley is doing. These young people are our future – we all must ensure that every pupil leaves school with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the digital world that surrounds them.” 1 Digital Skills for the UK Economy , a report by ECORYS UK, January 2016 2 Educating for the ModernWorld , CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Annual Report, November 2018 ...continued