Some 200 of the "unemployed and unrepresented" are to be offered the opportunity to retain for a career in the tech industry.

The free training will be delivered as part of the South East Local Partnership's (SELEP) £4.4million Covid-19 Recovery Fund.

They will receive free cloud, cyber, data and software teaching in the latest move to help close the digital skills gap.

It comes following the creation of a partnership between SELEP and the TechTalent Academy - a national organisation set up to tackle the growing issue.

The new initiative is part of SELEP’s £2m digital skills programme, funded by its recovery scheme.

SELEP chief executive Adam Bryan said: "The launch of the digital skills programme will be a key part of economic recovery for the South East, providing people with the chance to retrain for a new career in the burgeoning tech sector where growth and opportunity are plentiful. Through our networks and intelligence, we know what skills are needed and where the real employment opportunities for the future will be.

“Another key focus of this programme is to enable people in under-represented and marginalised groups to access a sector which may previously have been out of bounds. Benefitting the tech industry at the same time by plugging the skills gap and bringing a much more diverse workforce on board."

The training will be free to those in the South East who have faced barriers to entry to the tech industry, such as their socio-economic circumstances or gender, and those who have become unemployed due to the pandemic.

The full and part-time remote courses give people the chance to gain skills and industry accreditation across a number of key areas. It launches on July 12.

Janice Rae, CEO of the TechTalent Academy, added: “What’s made our courses so successful in other parts of the UK for people that have taken part is that it’s not training for training’s sake. We have strong relationships with employers with the focus on our candidates working in the sector once they’ve got their accreditation. With eight full and part time courses for up to 200 people in cloud, data, software and cyber taking place across the region in the next six months, I’d encourage any potential employers to get in touch as soon as possible to make the most of this incredible talent pipeline,” she added.

No previous experience in the tech sector is necessary with full and part-time courses taking place of between eight and 26 weeks in duration. For details click here.

For employers interested in finding out more about working with the TechTalent Academy, contact janice@techtalent.academy.

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