Innovation district established to tackle digital skills gap
A new innovation district has been established to provide a platform for the development of the next generation of digital skills, boosting the region’s economy and competitiveness.
The University of Birmingham, PwC and Tech She Can have been joined by Ahead Partnership and Digital Innovators to deliver the pioneering Birmingham Digital Futures (BDF) Innovation District, aimed at addressing the digital skills gap in the West Midlands.
The BDF Innovation District builds on a successful first year of activity in primary and secondary schools.
It will provide skills development programmes that cater to learners at all life stages: primary, secondary, further education (FE), higher education (HE), NEET, and re/upskilling for the existing workforce.
The partnership, with educators and the private sector, will foster the growth of the regional digital skills eco-system, ensuring an integrated offer and seamless transition between each stage.
Closing the skills gap could boost UK GDP by £87bn by 2030, and the West Midlands is poised to create 52,000 additional digital roles by 2025.
Yet regional business leaders have concerns over persistent gaps in key areas such as programming, knowledge of emerging technologies, and advanced statistics.
Pofessor Adam Tickell, vice-chancellor of the University of Birmingham said: “The University of Birmingham is proud to be at the forefront of addressing the digital skills gap in the West Midlands.
“Our ambition is to create a world-class digital skills ecosystem that draws on our research and teaching excellence, and aligns with regional and national skills policies, while also serving our civic mission of improving the lives of people in the region.”
Victoria Pargetter, associate director of business engagement and research impact, leads the BDF Innovation District for the University of Birmingham.
She said: “We're thrilled to be spearheading this with our partners, which we believe will have a significant impact on addressing socioeconomic barriers to accessing digital skills. Our goal is to bring together local businesses, government bodies, and the University of Birmingham to co-design, co-deliver and co-diffuse innovative methods for skills development that are open to all.”
The BDF Innovation District marks a ground-breaking shift in the approach to skills programmes. By unifying leaders from education, industry and policy, cutting-edge skills initiatives can be devised, evaluated and optimised to guarantee ongoing impact and advancement.
The BDF Innovation District will align with established regional innovation assets to realise cost efficiencies in fostering digital skills for the green economy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing through respective partnerships with the Tyseley Energy Park, Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC), and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.
It will also provide a platform for the development of digital skills through a range of activities, including training and development programmes, research initiatives, and collaborations with local businesses and government bodies. With support from local businesses and policy actors, the BDF Innovation District will work to bridge the digital skills gap in the West Midlands and help position the region as a leader in the digital economy.
