6 minute read
Mark Owens
Columnist
Mark Owens
Managing Director (Northern Ireland), Civica
STEM-ing the Skills Gap
Mark Owens, Managing Director (Northern Ireland) at Civica discusses how our classrooms should be catalysts for innovation.
The past year provided a stark reminder of just how much we’ve all come to depend upon smart technologies to support our livelihoods and keep our economy moving. Even those who were most hesitant at the idea of remote working, virtual GP appointments or digital self-service have been converted, as revealed by Civica’s A Word to the Wise report.
With a growing appetite for digitally-enabled services (both public and private) across all age groups and walks of life, one might safely assume that the way has never been clearer for a tsunami of new technologies to transform how we live and work. However, while the roadblock of digital literacy has effectively been removed, a new challenge is emerging which could derail the digital agenda.
Mind the (skills) gap
Where it comes to technology, Northern Ireland is already punching well above its weight. We are recognised as one of the top five tech hubs in the UK, with the software sector alone employing over 30,000 people, earning more than the national average. The Northern Ireland Executive aims to grow our economy ten-fold over the next ten years by stimulating innovation and smart specialisation in the sectors where our region has a world-leading competitive advantage. Achieving this ambition will require a large digitally competent workforce with specialist skills such as software engineering and data science. However, as things currently stand, this is looking like a tall order.
The tech sector in Northern Ireland relies heavily on the education system to provide most of its skilled workers each year, but there are clear signs that this supply of skills is shrinking. Applications to university courses in computer science and software engineering have declined in recent years. The number of schools offering ‘A’ Level and GCSE courses in the subjects valued by industry is too small resulting in fewer people seeking places in tertiary education in these subject areas. This year’s GCSE results did offer some cause for optimism, with a 3.9% increase in the number of students taking STEM subjects. But if we are serious about fuelling economic growth through technological innovation, then this number needs to climb sharply.
We’re in this together
As with most of the challenges we face today, the solution to our skills gap doesn’t sit exclusively with either government or industry. Both have their parts to play. The software sector works hard to make itself an attractive career choice for young people. At Civica, we work with schools across Northern Ireland, promoting software as an exciting career choice and our NorthStar innovation lab offers opportunities for apprentices, sponsored students, and graduates to work on ideas using data and automation that can create the future of public services. For its part, the government has launched multiple initiatives to help encourage more young people to pursue careers in technology and engineering.
In truth, however, neither public nor private sector is currently doing enough, and we risk losing the moment in an industry sector that is growing exponentially. We need to see far more prominence given to STEM subjects in our schools and to encourage and nurture those who show an interest in STEM by offering them clear pathways into these careers. We must also do a better job of articulating to our young people – who are perhaps more clued in than any generation before them – the positive impact that highly innovative companies have on the world around us. From the lifesaving COVID vaccine to the apps which help us live and work more safely, STEM specialists are some of the unsung heroes of the past twelve months.
Heirs to innovation
Young people who show an interest in technology, engineering or the sciences are the heirs to today’s innovators. Those who ultimately pursue a career in these fields will build and maintain innovative technologies that we’ve not even conceived of yet but which will undoubtedly play a crucial role in helping us live better and safer lives in the future. But right now, their numbers are too small, putting that future in doubt. We must therefore keep working together to make STEM an attractive career choice and ensure the future we aspire to becomes a reality.
BOOSTING BUSINESS IN NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have recently revealed that their business support programmes have assisted 720 local businesses to date, resulting in the creation of 111 new jobs.
Councillor Cathy Mason, Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, is encouraging more local businesses to get involved in the current suite of programmes saying: “The diverse range of support programmes available to our local businesses is testimony to the Council’s dedication to assist in their growth and development. With bespoke advice available, I would urge new and existing businesses to make contact with NMD Business to discuss and avail of the support offered.”
Coupled with this, the council continued to implement the “COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Plan” which aimed to deliver financial support for a range of businesses across the district’s urban and rural settlements. In total, a funding package of £1.9 M was secured from the Department for Communities (DFC), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) to address the negative economic issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional business programmes supported by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council include the “Go For It – Business Start Up” support programme; “Yes You Can”, which supports female entrepreneurship; the “Exploring Enterprise Programme”, which aims to help those who are thinking about employment and selfemployment get into work; a programme to support the creation and development of Social Enterprises; an Innovate Accelerate Programme and Co-Innovate Programme which aim to support the growth and innovation capability of the local Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Cathy Mason, Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Find out more by contacting business@nmandd.org or follow @ NMDBusiness on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
WHY ENTERING THE CROSS-BORDER MARKET COULD MAKE SENSE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Anne-Marie McAteer. Cross-border trade is at a record high of over £6 billion. What is your business doing to make the most of the opportunities in the opposite jurisdiction?
Sales are crucial to the success of any fi rm, and for small businesses with limited resources or fi rst time exporters, trading across the border is the perfect place to begin. Ireland is the closest export market, and there is no language barrier.
At InterTradeIreland we have a number of programmes to assist you, including our Acumen programme, which can fund up to £15,000 for a sales person to win new business for your fi rm in the cross-border market.
With our Elevate support, up to £5,000 is available for specialist sales and marketing assistance, to help your business develop a cross-border sales and marketing plan.
“As a result of Elevate, we have fresh contacts and we won some new business.”
Anthony Hood, Hood Engineering and Agri Parts
Based outside Omagh at Newtownstewart in Co. Tyrone, Hood Engineering and Agri Parts has been in business for 20 years.
Founded by Anthony Hood and his wife Marie, the agricultural engineering SME sells, repairs and manufactures farm machinery.
The business has steadily evolved through the decades, and recently participated in InterTradeIreland’s Elevate programme, which provided the fi rm with consultancy advice looking into the cross-border market to look at the cross-border market.
Marie comments “Our consultant really knew the cross-border market, and as a result of Elevate we have fresh contacts and we won some new business in the South. I would defi nitely recommend Elevate to other small fi rms. If it helps your business grow, why wouldn’t you apply?”
Anne-Marie McAteer project manager with InterTradeIreland says “We’re delighted that Hood Enginnering and Agri Parts found the programme useful.
