The relevance of theLeitch Review Skills Pledgeto the IT
sector is being questioned, with IT professionals needing higher
qualifications than it allows for.
Only a small proportion of IT professionals are yet to gain the
qualifications set out by the pledge, which commits employers to
training all staff to Level 2 - the equivalent of five
GCSEs. Just 4% of IT workers have yet to gain five GCSEs, and
more than half already have a first degree or higher, says
E-skills, the IT industry's sector skills body.
E-skills is discussing the possibility of an "enhanced pledge",
aimed at increasing the number of firms that provide high level
training for workers.
"Over half (55%) of today's IT and telecoms professionals have
achieved first-degree equivalent or higher, and the IT and telecoms
sector is a significant investor in employee training," said
E-skills CEO, Karen Price.
"We are therefore discussing with employers whether an 'enhanced
pledge' might be of interest to our sector - one that encourages
the development of higher level skills.
"The current format of the pledge is focused primarily on the
achievement of a Level 2 qualification. The majority of the
sector's development needs are at higher levels," she said.
Nearly 250 employers have now signed the Leitch Review Skills
Pledge, compared with 170 at the time of the launch.
The review, published in 2006, emphasises the importance of
skills to the UK economy, but focuses mainly on lower level
skills.