As we approach the deadline for the SOLACE/Microsoft's Britain Works Challenge to win training vouchers for your local community, Helen Gilroy explains the details of the competition.
At a recent CBI conference, IMF director, Dominic Strauss-Kahn, said that, looking at the current trends, unemployment in Britain was set to extend into the coming year, despite the fact that the country's economy is on the verge of recovering from recession. Recent statistics confirm his observations.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows UK unemployment stood at 2.46m on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure in the July to September period – a rate of 7.8%.
Furthermore, recent figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts the UK unemployment rate, on the ILO measure, will rise to 9.3% in 2010, and to 9.5% in 2011.
The implications of these high figures become even more severe, taking into account the fact that there are thousands of people who do not have the appropriate skills which businesses need in today's IT-led economy.
onsidering that currently 77% of all jobs require some form of computer skills, it is impossible not to recognise the importance of IT skills in bridging the digital divide.
The Government is undoubtedly focused on bridging this divide and getting people back into jobs, and is working closely with the private sector on various initiatives and programmes to achieve this goal.
One of the ways in which Microsoft has been working closely with local councils is through its Britain Works Challenge programme, aimed at helping half-a-million people into jobs in areas that will lead to economic recovery.
The challenge, supported by SOLACE, provides an opportunity for councils to devise effective programmes to address IT skills shortages in their communities. Entries close on Friday 18 December.
With only a week left to pitch their ideas, local authorities are urged to submit their proposals in order to stand a chance to win up to 100,000 Microsoft training vouchers to be used by citizens in their area. A panel of industry and local government judges will choose the best ideas, and training vouchers will be awarded to ensure the suggestions can be delivered.
Michael Frater, managing director at Change for the Better Ltd, and one of the judges says: ‘I decided to get involved with Microsoft's Britain Works Challenge for two main reasons. ‘First, one of the first jobs I had was helping unemployed youngsters in my hometown of Telford during the 1970s recession. As a result, unemployment has always been close to my heart. ‘Second, this is an issue which impacts on me and my family directly, as my youngest son has been unable to find a job since finishing university.
‘We have a real unemployment crisis in the UK but, hopefully through the Britain Works Challenge, we can help give a few people the training and work experience needed to get back into employment.'
Winning entries will demonstrate the strongest combination of the following judging criteria:
