UKIE investigating digital skills needs for Mayor of London

UKIE is about to embark on a significant research project into London’s digital skills needs – an initiative that will be funded by the Mayor of London’s London Enterprise Panel.

The trade body will partner with the Education Foundation think tank for the project, which will build on UKIE’s Next Gen Skills campaign and its current work with secondary schools, also funded by the Mayor.

By the end of the project, UKIE’s research will be used to form recommendations on how schools and teachers in East London can be better supported when teaching the new Computing curriculum.

"Skills and talent are a top priority for the games industry," said UKIE CEO Jo Twist. "London’s tech sector can only grow further if we support schools and colleges, equipping them with the tools necessary to teach 21st century skills."

Next Gen Skills co-ordinator Theo Blackwell added: "The research and recommendations on how to shape proper support for schools to deliver new creative digital skills will be relevant not just to London, but elsewhere in the country. We are grateful to the Mayor of London for leading the way on this and recognising that nurturing our talent from an early age is vitally important."