Transforming the West Midland's Digital Landscape - The Digital Skills Consortium

During Birmingham Tech Week 2024’s Digital Skills Symposium, the West Midlands solidified its ambition to become the UK’s premier digital hub with the announcement of the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium (WMDSC). Comprised of several businesses from various sectors, this consortium seeks to revolutionise the region’s digital ecosystem, creating a unique environment for digital skills development and innovation. Founding members include TechWM, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), IBM, SF Technology, In4 Group, and AND Digital, working together under the leadership of Victoria Pargetter-Garner, Director of Digital Skills & Commercial Impact at TechWM.

The Digital Skills Consortium is a bold initiative addressing the urgent need for a skilled tech workforce in the West Midlands. With digital technology now a cornerstone of virtually every industry, the Consortium aims to bridge the region’s growing digital skills gap, positioning local businesses—particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. This effort will also benefit larger organisations, as the region looks to become a national leader in digital talent development and innovation.

Yiannis Maos (Tech WM) Richard Bovey (AND Digital), Victoria Pargetter-Garner (Tech WM), Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, Vikki Bradney-Spencer (IBM), Mike Lattimer (SF Technology), Lauren Monks (In4 Group), David Gaughan (West Midlands Combined Authority)

Lord Kulveer Ranger, Chair of Digital Skills on the West Midlands Tech & Digital Advisory Board, will collaborate with the Consortium to ensure its goals align with the broader tech strategy for the region. A working group of key members will meet regularly to discuss progress and make recommendations that will be fed back to the WMCA, academic institutions, and training providers.

A major objective of the Consortium is to develop a robust pipeline of digital talent. By collaborating with colleges, universities, and specialised training providers, the WMDSC will design programmes aimed at training individuals in high-demand digital skills, such as coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, and AI. Notably, the Consortium is working with IBM to offer a range of free digital programmes such as IBM SkillsBuild and other training opportunities, including a newly developed ‘AI for All’ workshop. This initiative will help ensure the West Midlands is recognised as a hub for digital talent, supporting SMEs and larger businesses alike in meeting their tech workforce needs.

The Consortium also aims to provide SMEs with strategic guidance on how to attract, retain, and develop tech talent. By offering practical pathways and strategies, local businesses will have the support they need to remain competitive in the global digital economy.

Beyond workforce development, the Digital Skills Consortium will encourage collaboration across sectors. By facilitating the sharing of expertise and resources between businesses, educational institutions, and government entities, the Consortium will create an open environment of knowledge exchange. This collaborative spirit will enable companies to harness digital technologies more effectively, ensuring they remain competitive both locally and globally.

Key partners engaged with this initiative include Birmingham Digital Futures, WMGC, TechUK, and WM5G, among others. Additionally, the Consortium will draw on relationships with local colleges and universities, such as the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology, to ensure the educational sector plays a vital role in shaping the region’s digital landscape.

Inclusivity is at the heart of the Digital Skills Consortium’s mission. The Consortium is committed to making digital education accessible to all, with a particular focus on engaging underrepresented communities in the West Midlands. Ensuring individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the region’s burgeoning digital economy is central to the Consortium's vision.

Speaking at the launch, Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, expressed the importance of this new initiative:

“Our region’s growing digital sector is key to creating new job opportunities, especially for young people. WMCA is investing in training for vital skills like cyber, AI, coding, and green tech to help bridge the digital skills gap and connect people to the jobs of the future.

“Supporting young people into these careers is essential to tackling youth unemployment, and I’m committed to working with the tech sector to meet their needs. I also encourage businesses to step up by offering work experience, training, and apprenticeships to help young people get started.”

Victoria Pargetter-Garner, Director of Digital Skills & Commercial Impact at TechWM, who will be leading the Consortium, also commented:

“The launch of the Digital Skills Consortium is a pivotal moment for the West Midlands. This initiative not only positions our region at the cutting edge of technological advancement but also reinforces our commitment to creating a future-ready workforce. By bringing together key players from business, education, and government, we’re laying the foundation for sustained growth and innovation.

What’s truly exciting is the inclusivity at the core of this initiative. We are making sure that digital skills development is accessible to all, giving people from every community the chance to engage with the opportunities that a digital economy offers. Whether it's coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, or AI, this Consortium is setting the stage for a new wave of talent that will power the next chapter of our region's economic story.”

As the digital economy continues to expand, the Digital Skills Consortium will play a pivotal role in positioning the West Midlands as a leader in innovation, skills development, and business success.

TechWM  

TechWM is a digital economy agency, advising on regional tech policy, making recommendations and creating partnerships between the public, private and academic sectors. TechWM connects, aims to raise the profile of the West Midlands tech sector and help local businesses go global. Through a number of carefully crafted scale-up initiatives, cross-network collaboration, and original content, Tech West Midlands helps tech and digital businesses successfully scale by providing them with valuable knowledge, insight, and support.  

Since its inception in 2019, the organisation has helped businesses raise over £100 million and inspired thousands of people to get into the tech sector. It has also become known for its most popular showcase event, Birmingham Tech Week, the UK’s largest regional tech event.