A new centre of excellence for digital skills training is opening in Jersey, as Digital Jersey announces its expansion to meet growing demand from the tech sector.
The Digital Skills Academy, located at Digital Jersey’s base on Grenville Street in St Helier, will offer university-accredited qualifications and professional training, ranging from degree apprenticeships to short courses.
Digital Jersey CEO Tony Moretta said: ‘The launch of the Digital Skills Academy marks a step-change in our work, and is a testament to the growth of the Island’s digital sector. We will be able to offer on-island higher education courses for those leaving school or college, as well as bespoke courses for Islanders looking to upskill in an increasingly digital world. I’ve spoken, for months now, about the need for a suitably skilled workforce to meet the evolving requirements of employers. The Digital Skills Academy will work to achieve precisely that.’
The Digital Skills Academy will work with a range of professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the British Computer Society to offer a suite of accredited courses, as well as partnering with Jersey-based businesses to tap into the vast experience that exists on-island among companies choosing Jersey as their digital home.
The announcement of the Academy comes as Digital Jersey expands its deskspace in The Hub for digital businesses from the current 28 to around 75 to meet unprecedented demand. These permanent desks are in addition to the hot desks used daily by Digital Jersey members.
Mr Moretta said: ‘When I’m asked for evidence of the growth of Jersey’s tech sector, I point to our own front door. For the whole of 2018 we’ve been at full capacity with our permanent desks in The Hub, with a growing waiting list from start-ups and entrepreneurs who see our collaborative and supportive environment as the perfect place to grow their businesses. Being able to treble the number of desks is a sign of the confidence that exists in the sector, and means our “good breeds good” approach to people helping each other achieve success can be taken to the next level.’
‘The backing from government for the Digital Skills Academy and The Hub expansion is a great example of their ongoing support for education, skills development and retraining as well as for Jersey’s great number of tech startups. With the launch of the Digital Jersey Xchange in January, 2019 is going to be a busy year for us.’
Work to expand The Hub will begin in mid 2019 with the Digital Skills Academy due to open in September 2019.
