SFW supports National Skills Academy for IT

Following Government approval and support for the National Skills Academy for IT, announced on 26th November 2009, SFW's Steve Elliott talks about its importance to SMEs

10 Dec 2009

IT has become one of the bedrocks of British industry, so much so that it is widely believed to be one of the most important economy drivers for the next decade. It is not suprising, therefore, that ensuring the right skills are available within the UK workforce is critical to the long-term productivity and global competitiveness of the UK.

"The recent announcement of Government backing for the National Skills Academy for IT is excellent news, not only because it provides resounding acknowledgement of the role that IT has to play in the current economic recovery, but also in the future development of the economy," commented Steve Elliott, Director of SFW.

"SFW has been partnering with e-skills UK as part of an industry-wide initiative to improve skills in the IT sector," he continued. "SMEs are often at the bleeding edge of technology and it is this ability to provide innovative offerings, combined with their inherent agility that gives them their competitive advantage. However, unlike their larger equivalents that have the potential to skim the cream of global talent, SMEs are almost exclusively reliant on the skills available within the country in which they operate.

As such, acquiring the appropriate skills is not only crucial to the development of the future workforce but, moreover, crucial to the success of UK SMEs. The approval and development of a National Skills Academy for IT is, therefore another positve step forward towards ensuring that SMEs, the lifeblood of the UK economy, will continue to deliver world-class innovation well into the future.

I am delighted that, in partnering with e-skills UK, SFW has played a part in effecting this change and look forward to, what I believe, will be extremely positive results for the UK IT industry."

To view the full press release from e-skills UK or to visit the e-skills UK website, please click here