As the Government struggles with IT skills initiatives, it's time
to turn ideas into action
Britain has an IT skills gap that, if not urgently addressed,
will derail the Government's vision of a high-tech, high-skills
economy.
Since the publication of Alan Stevens' report, Skills for the
Information Age, numerous initiatives and task forces have been
thrown at the problem. But it is time to move from analysis to
action. Here we outline Computer Weekly's five-point action
plan.
1. It is an e-skills crisis
Analyst predictions for Europe's IT skills gap do not make pleasant
reading. By the middle of this decade the EU could be facing a
shortfall of 800,000 IT workers. But the bare figures tell less
than half the story.
We are at the end of a technology cycle dominated by the
client-server model and at the start of one dominated by the
Internet. So it is not just a question of boosting the supply of
raw recruits. We need government-industry collaboration to train
them in the right disciplines, and to retrain those with
client-server or mainframe skills.
At present there are too many unco-ordinated initiatives,
national training organisations are underfunded and the shared
responsibility between industry and education ministers is getting
in the way.
What we think
The Government should bring together all the ICT skills initiatives
under one minister, with one over-arching quango. There are plenty
of good ideas out there - we need focus, speed and
accountability.
2. Training investment
UK firms invest too little in IT training. The after-tax return on
outlay is poor and headhunting means you can end up training
somebody else's workforce.
There is little chance of a compulsory training levy. Employers
are against it, and the Government's Skills Task Force rejected it.
Despite that, education secretary David Blunkett has offered to use
existing powers to back any voluntary arrangement, and has cited
the voluntary 0.05% levy on turnover in the broadcasting industry
as a possible model.
What we think
We need big tax breaks for employers and individuals who invest in
training. The Government should introduce an interest-free loan
scheme for individuals who want to pay for their own training. The
E-Skills NTO should lead the fight for a voluntary levy to fund ICT
skills training across industry.
3. The image problem
The Stevens Report called for a "high-profile, nationwide campaign"
to improve the image of ICT jobs. But it has not happened. The
"image" question can seem intangible and insoluble, but it is
vitally important.
The Government's efforts at boosting techno-literacy in schools
will begin to pay off in the latter part of this decade. But the
best graduates may still choose to be lawyers, doctors or
accountants unless the IT profession becomes more attractive.
What we think
We need a sustained, government-backed campaign to boost the image
of IT. Education institutions must improve the low status of IT;
businesses must raise its status within the firm. An IT director on
the board is not just vital for business strategy - it is a signal
that the profession can be a route to the highest level of business
leadership.
4. Bring more women into IT
The image problem is a factor in the woefully low number of women
graduates who join the IT profession - but that is only half the
story. Many organisations in practice exempt their IT departments
from family-friendly policies and "work-life balance"
principles.
What we think
Employers should bring IT employment practices, hours and culture
into line with best practice. Sexism and discrimination against
women should be stamped out at departmental level. Both employers
and government should experiment with radical solutions - for
example, the women-only postgraduate IT courses run in Australia
cited by the Stevens report.
5. End the training chaos
When we asked IT directors what was top of their wish list to close
the skills gap, many named better co-ordination between educators,
trainers and employers.
What we think
The 800 IT qualifications should be slimmed down to a core set -
with supplier exams centrally accredited. IT training firms must be
forced to comply with national standards through central
accreditation.
Government and industry must together spell out a clear picture
of the skills needed. Education institutions and software giants
must ensure that portable, generic skills are included in all
proprietory qualifications.
All this represents only the big picture. There are firms,
universities and a plethora of quangoes hard at work on the detail
- but the missing link is a national strategy, with a single point
of leadership.
IT skills and productivity will be central issues for the next
decade. We have had four years of good ideas on skills from Labour.
Whoever governs next must prioritise turning ideas into action.
what do you think?
Have we got it right or wrong? Send your views to
computerweekly@rbi.co.uk
- subject line: "Skills Strategy". We will publish a special page
of reader responses on 5 April.