GMCA and Manchester Digital have teamed up to help people switch to a career in tech…
A Career in Tech
Manchester Digital and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have collaborated, creating a new programme for those wanting to switch to a digital career. The programme is open for people from all over the UK, not just Greater Manchester.
Switch to Digital Careers Week
The new Switch to Digital careers week aims to offer education for those impacted by the nationwide job cuts. Across the UK, there have been 730,000 job cuts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, this programme wants to help advise people how they may use their prior experience and skill set to switch to a career in tech.
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The week-long event will be online. Above all, the programme is designed to encourage personal development and motivate individuals looking to change careers. They want to identify transferable skills and experience in other roles in sector that may be useful in a digital career. Additionally, the programme will feature key speakers and events from big names in tech including Microsoft and AutoTrader.
The Prevalence of Digital
Many people shy away from digital-based jobs, fearing they do not possess the relevant skills or experience. Currently, around 100,000 people are employed in digital roles just in Manchester alone. Tech is one of the fastest growing sectors in the region, with an estimated investment of £600 million into North West tech firms in 2019. The latest figures from Tech Nation revealed that advertised vacancies in the UK’s digital sector grew by 36% from June to August of this year. Thus, this shows that there is a clear demand for digital workers.
Event Dates
The timing of the event is not a coincidence with dates running from the 5th to the 9th October. These dates deliberately coincide with the end of the government furlough scheme, hoping to bring together individuals and businesses across the sector. Manchester Digital created the event alongside the National Careers Service and Job Centre Plus. Speakers will share knowledge about pathways into the sector, available jobs and the type of skills needed. Importantly, they have designed the events to be as accessible as possible. Sign up is free and the events will all be exclusively online. Attendees are encouraged to sign up to the sessions of their choice – as many or as few as they desire. In addition, the programme includes a speed mentoring event, with all levels of seniority within the digital industry.
