Employees offered help to get online
Employees across Plymouth are being offered ICT training to help hundreds of people get better skills for work.
Council leader Tudor Evans has written to organisations and companies in the city offering ICT training for employees who would like to get more confident around computers and online.
The initiative follows the Council’s own successful pilot scheme to improve basic ICT skills among staff.
Council leader Tudor Evans said: “By 2020 90 per cent of all jobs will need ICT skills. We know that here in Plymouth there is a skills gap in basic computer literacy – and we want to close it.
“We have already made great inroads with 1,800 people on courses last year, but we think there may be thousands more – many in full- time employment – who want to get up to speed, but are struggling to find the time and the place to do this.
“Many people see their children or friends completely at ease with computers, but feel so far behind, they do not know where to start. These courses are for them, so that they learn about getting online in an informal way; to get to grips with social media, set up an email and start saving money online.
“This also has spin- offs for companies, as it helps staff progress and grow more confident on computers – it will help people avoid sleepwalking into unemployment.“
The programme is being organised as part of the Get IT Together Plymouth project and the project hope to hear from smaller companies and organisations who think their staff may also benefit from some ICT support
The Council is working with BT, Plymouth Community Homes, the Plymouth Health Community and Jobcentre Plus to fund the programme run by Citizens Online.
It provides friendly, informal sessions for beginners to help with basic keyboard and mouse skills; emails; searching the internet and using it to find a job.
Over 1,800 learners attended an IT course last year at a number of venues ranging from the Plymouth Advice Centre for Employment, North Prospect Community Learning, libraries, Salvation Army, PCH and Plymouth Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
Qualified tutors from training organisations would deliver ICT training within the work place. The aim of the training would be to give workers ICT skills, with a focus on getting online.
