Member Article

Bridging the skills gap

Stockton Riverside College is joining forces with one of Teesside’s leading IT companies to help bridge a growing skills-gap.

Working in partnership with eCommerce agency, Visualsoft, the College is piloting an introductory web development course that could see students go on to secure an apprenticeship with the rapidly expanding firm.

Visualsoft’s Sarah McCormick said: “Despite the North-east having recently started to establish itself as a digital hub of the UK, we are seeing a significant gap in the amount of young people coming through with web development and front end development skills.”

With plans to double the workforce at Visualsoft in the next five years, Sarah said: “We are always crying out for PHP and CSS developers. While some are coming through in the North-east there’s not as many as a company of our size needs.”

By partnering up with Stockton Riverside College, together the organisations will be able to deliver training that meets specific industry demands and creates a job-ready workforce.

Stockton Riverside College’s Director of Business Development, Michelle Elliott, said: “Our aim, as an education provider, is to give people the skills and training that employers are looking for.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for young people aged 16 to 18, and could see them go on to pursue a career in this growing and exciting industry.”

The full time programme, which is due to start this January, would see students develop the sought after technical know-how alongside customer relationship management skills.

Michelle explained that students would spend half a day a week with Visualsoft throughout the course and also undertake one full week’s work experience with the Stockton-based company.

At the end of the 20-week course the students are guaranteed an interview with the potential to move on to a Level 2 apprenticeship with the firm, or they could progress on to an alternate apprenticeship or full time study programme.

Visualsoft’s Sarah McCormick said: “This is the first project of this kind, and this scale, that we have carried out with a local college.”

With four offices in Stockton, Newcastle, London and Sydney, Australia, and working with more than 1000 clients, including worldwide brands such as Kickers and Gola, the company has grown at an average rate of 300% per year since it was established in 1998.

Visualsoft hit the headlines recently after it successfully introduced limitless holidays and flexible working for all of its staff.

For more details about the introductory web development course running in partnership with Visualsoft call Stockton Riverside College on 01642 865566.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Marie Turbill .