I READ your report on the digital skills gap and about moves to remedy this (“Bid to combat threat from lack of digital skills”, Herald Business, April 21). Shortfall in the uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools has been cited and this particular aspect is being addressed. Apprenticeship support for school leavers is equally laudable.
I am aware, however, of the large section of working age population who are not being supported sufficiently to fill the needs of the burgeoning digital sector. There are very many graduates of physics, maths, engineering, and so on who find themselves without the necessary particular skills and experience to seamlessly fill the vast shortfall in the digital sector.
My contention is that there is in this country a highly skilled pool of talent. For example, in my little corner of the Highlands I know of several individuals in their thirties – committed and flexible who find themselves through no personal fault not in a good place for the job market. Where are the employers ready to undertake “in employment” retraining? Where is the Scottish Government`s support and encouragement for retraining?
When I was head of science and teaching physics at our local school the mantra was that many of the jobs of the future could not be imagined but a good training in maths, science or technology would be better able to secure job security. I do not feel that view has been fulfilled.
We used to tell them that retraining throughout a working life would be a necessity. Where is the retraining? If you are financially fortunate then fine, but it has always been thus. I spoke the other day to a recently redundant, thirtysomething, oil worker from Kingussie. He has found a position after undergoing funded digital training. He marvelled at his good fortune. His training and his position were both found in Sweden. Scotland cannot afford this continuing history of the loss of our young people.
Richard Webster,
28 Campbell Crescent, Kingussie.
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