TechSkills 2024 review and the year ahead. Lorna Willis, CEO, TechSkills
Introduction from Lorna Willis, CEO, TechSkills
As we step into a pivotal year for the UK’s tech sector, I want to share my perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead. The need for collaboration and cohesion has never been more critical to addressing the country’s growing tech skills crisis.
I feel more strongly than ever that we must act decisively. The challenges we face—from a persistent shortage of skilled professionals to systemic uncertainty in education and unclear policy directions—pose real risks to innovation and economic growth.
At techskills we’ve been working hard to bridge these gaps, creating pathways that connect education, training, and employment in the tech sector. I’d like to thank our Tech Industry Gold accredited providers, employer network and learner community for their continuous support. I’ve seen firsthand how partnerships between employers, education and training providers can make a tangible difference.
Yet, systemic issues remain.
Post-Election Update: What does this mean going forward?
The Skills England Bill: The introduction of the Skills England Bill aims to streamline the UK’s skills system by absorbing the responsibilities currently managed by ifATE. This initiative is set to transform the AI landscape into a more inclusive environment while equipping learners with industry relevant skills that meet the demands of employers.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency: The ESFA will be closed by March 2025 and its core functionality will be transferred to the Department of Education. The transition is expected to increase efficiency and promote a more seamless system. However, there are concerns how transparency can be maintained if the financial point and policy makers are housed within one function. Some have highlighted that this will reduce fairness in decisions and others are in support of a centralised system.
Building a Tech Ready UK: Aligning Policy and Overcoming Skills Challenges
The government’s ambitions to position the UK as a global tech leader are encouraging, but there’s a disconnect between vision and execution. Recent policy decisions, such as cuts to Level 7 apprenticeship programmes funding and the closure of school computing hubs, highlight this misalignment. The establishment of Skills England presents both opportunities and challenges. While it offers a framework to address regional skills shortages and foster more targeted, effective training initiatives, its success will depend on clear direction, adequate funding, and strong collaboration with industry stakeholders. Without these, it risks adding complexity to an already fragmented system.
Universities, too, face significant challenges, from funding pressures to adapting curricula to meet the demands of an evolving tech landscape. Yet, there are exciting plans as the sector looks to transform, embracing innovation and partnerships with industry to equip students with the skills needed for the future. By aligning with the needs of employers and adopting more agile approaches, universities have the potential to play a pivotal role in addressing the skills gap.
Looking Back at 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025
techSkills 2024 Stats
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9 New Tech Industry Gold Accreditations over 8 pathways
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4187 learners on Tech Industry Gold accredited courses
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36 Tech Industry Gold accredited providers
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52 enrichments delivered
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502 Employer Network Members
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First cohort of learners enrolled on the techskills Learner Platform
Reports and Publications
The techskills Journal: techskills has launched the first edition of The Journal, bringing together employers, educators, and learners to address the digital skills gap. This 76-page edition features insightful interviews and articles from influential tech leaders, creating conversation on how to foster collaboration for a thriving tech sector.
Thought Leadership
Cyber Security: Responding to concerns from the techskills employer and provider network, we spearheaded efforts with ifATE to reform the Cyber Security apprenticeship framework. This work ensures it meets industry needs, supports learners in achieving qualifications, and upholds the quality standards necessary for a secure future.
FinTech: techskills is breaking new ground with the first Trailblazer group for FinTech apprenticeships. As demand for FinTech expertise grows, techskills is collaborating with employers and providers to deliver apprenticeship programmes that address the demand for FinTech experts, paving the way for innovation and growth in the financial sector.
SME Regional Roundtable: techskills hosted the first SME Regional Roundtable in partnership with Northeastern University, featuring Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli. The event highlighted the pivotal role of SMEs in driving skills development and economic growth, fostering connections that empower regional businesses.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Securing the Future of Apprenticeships and Tech Education: techskills is concerned about funding cuts to Level 7 apprenticeship programmes, which threaten access to high quality advanced training and development for learners and employers. techskills will champion decisive action and aligned policies to amply the voice of our community, ensuring the security and growth of apprenticeships. The Skills England Bill presents both challenges and opportunities. By uniting educators, employers, and policymakers, we aim to provide input to support cohesive training systems, clear career pathways, and robust funding strategies that position the UK as a global innovation leader while building a sustainable tech sector.
techskills Supports Accessible IT for All: With the new Labour government’s decision to remove funding for computing hubs, a programme that nearly doubled participation in computer science subjects, techskills is committed to mitigating the impact. We will collaborate with our network of providers and employers to advocate for continued access to high quality computing education, ensuring no school or learner is left behind.
In 2025, what’s required is clear: decisive action, aligned policies, and meaningful collaboration. Educators, employers, and policymakers must work together to create cohesive training systems, clear career pathways, and funding strategies that support long term growth of digital skills. Only by uniting efforts can we secure the UK’s place as a global leader in innovation and ensure a thriving future for the tech sector.
For more information on techskills please visit our website.
Lorna Willis
Lorna is an award-winning CEO who puts investment in people and talent at the heart of the organisations she’s worked for. She successfully led the transformation of Archant Community Media delivering new revenue, audience growth and improved staff retention and engagement, as well as leading on the creation of a learning organisation with the emphasis on integrating digital skills and capability.