Reading: Digital skills hub sets up permanent base at Green Park
After a successful nine month digital skills training pilot, ConnectTVT has announced Digital Gum will put down permanent roots at GROW@Green Park, Reading’s first co-working & incubation space. Creating a hub for digital skills, the programme returns with its popular re-launcher course this month, expanding to include evening dates.
Making a digital comeback
Digital Gum launched in September 2017 to give re-launchers the in-demand digital skills needed for today’s work place and inspire those in creative roles to embrace new technology. To date, 80 people have successfully graduated from the programme, with 15 returning to employment or starting their own businesses.
Louize Clarke, founder of ConnectTVT and Digital Gum, commented: “We firmly believe that diversity and inclusion in digital is the only way to close the skills gap and our content is designed to inspire those with a creative leaning to pursue careers in digital. With the Government investing £1 billion in AI, encouraging creative people with an empathy towards customers to enter our industry will be absolute critical to UK success.”
Digital Gum’s Small Business sessions will also make a comeback with fresh content to keep up with the pace of digital change alongside introductory courses to web development and data science.
Matching skills and talent
With the success of Digital Gum, ConnectTVT has announced further growth plans. Matt Bovey joins the team from Vodafone, to champion the talent agenda for the Thames Valley’s digital community. Bovey is responsible for developing Connect Talks events, bringing together leading Thames Valley innovators to share their stories with the technology community and shape the future of work in the region. A full programme will be launched in November.
He added: “Whilst training people with the relevant skills is critical to our digital economy, it’s also essential that businesses recognise the need to be more creative around their hiring strategies. We’ll be engaging with businesses to discuss how new thinking and behaviours are essential for strong employer brands.”
Welcoming GROW’s news, Rory Carson, vice-president at Mapletree, commented: “To have a digital skills hub based here at Green Park is a great asset. It’s no secret that many industries are becoming increasingly digitalised, so having such a hub here will ensure our occupiers have every available advantage when it comes to attracting and retaining the very best talent, which is hugely important for their growth.”
Registrations for Digital Gum are available at www.wearedigitalgum.com