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Tag: IT

  • IT industry worst affected by pandemic, study finds

    Finito World

     

    We’re more than halfway through 2022, and the pandemic appears to be behind us. Restrictions have been lifted, and many industries are now getting back on their feet. However, it is clear that there are lingering effects of the pandemic in some sectors, so the training hub School of Marketing set out to find which industries are still struggling.

    By analysing ONS data regarding the number of new businesses created and the number of businesses which closed in each sector, both pre and post-pandemic, it is clear that the information and communication industry has taken the biggest hit. Before the pandemic, 92 IT businesses closed for every 100 created. Post-pandemic, 173 IT businesses close for every 100 which open.

    This is most likely due to a combination of factors, including the industry’s reliance on overseas consumption, global supply chain disruption, and shipping and delivery bottlenecks.

    The second most affected industry is finance and insurance, which saw a 50% increase in the number of businesses closing post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, about 40 businesses closed for every 100 created. Post-pandemic, that number is up to 72.

    CEO of School of Marketing Ritchie Mehta points out that the stagnating number of new businesses makes skilled employees extremely valuable in the post-pandemic market.

    “As entrepreneurs look to protect themselves against a harsher business environment, the value of skilled employees has never been higher,” Mehta says, “This data shows how much more difficult it has become to survive as a business since the pandemic. In the two years before the impact of Covid-19 on average more businesses were created than closed each quarter, but now the numbers of company births and deaths are basically equal.”

    Across the board, businesses are now closing at a slightly higher rate than they are being created – 101.5 for every 100. Before the pandemic, about 87 businesses closed for every 100 created. It is unknown how long these effects will last, but it is clear that it will take time to reach those much sought after ‘normal’ levels once again.

    Source: https://schoolofmarketing.co

  • ‘Earn while you learn’ scheme prepares young people for IT industry

    Patrick Crowder

    The professional services company FDM Group has unveiled a new ‘earn while you learn’ training scheme. After a 12-week study period, students taking part in the scheme can begin working on projects for clients as apprentices.

    The three-year programme will leave young people with skills and experience in the IT industry while allowing them to avoid university costs and earn money from the work they perform. They will also earn a level 6 (Bachelor of Science) qualification as Digital and Technology Professional apprentices.

    FDM Group says that their commitment to diversity and inclusion is a major consideration in this programme, so it will operate with a 50/50 gender split and instruct many students from disadvantaged backgrounds. FDM CEO Rod Flavell explains why it is so important to give these opportunities to those who need them most.

    “Far too many talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds miss out on a university education due to fears around tuition fees – a problem compounded by the chaos and disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Flavell says, “Our new apprenticeship programme has been designed to give those very people access to well-paid experience in the IT industry, allowing them the freedom to learn and develop as part of a fully-funded degree level qualification.”

    The apprenticeship scheme is designed to work in partnership with universities. Sheffield Hallam University is the first partner, and they will host the on-site instruction portions of the course. The first 12-week term, as well as seven more study blocks and final exams, will take place as SHU. Apprentices will receive full salary and subsidised accommodation during their time studying at SHU.

    This programme is unique because it not only offers the experience that apprenticeship provides, but it also gives young people an opportunity to access university education, full mentorship support, and salary while working towards a degree-level qualification. 20% of the course will be spent in the classroom, with the other 80% set aside for practical learning. Joe Hockney, who is the Employer Partnerships Manager at SHU, explains why this programme is such a good fit for his university.

    “We’re proud of our partnership with FDM and applaud their record of bringing diverse new talent into tech. This aligns perfectly with our Transforming Lives strategy,” Hockney says, “We’re the current University of the Year for Social Mobility; a high proportion of our students are from under-represented groups or are the first person in their family to attend university.”

    It has always been important to provide young people with many paths to success, but apprenticeships have often been overlooked. Now, it is more important than ever to allow people from all backgrounds the opportunity to receive quality qualifications and enter the working world with a good head start. CEO Rod Flavell believes that creating new programmes such as this is not only a good practice, but a social responsibility.

    “We all have a responsibility to contribute to the UK’s wider levelling up agenda,” Flavell says, “We hope that our new offering will transform the lives of hundreds of young people, spreading opportunity and access to a fantastic career across the whole country.”

    FDM Group’s apprenticeship scheme has been open since January 31st, 2022. More information on how to apply can be found at the link below.

    https://www.fdmgroup.com/careers/apprenticeship/