Tech Channel Ambassadors

This week our ambassadors Hayley Roberts, Dave Stanley and Rachel Wright were at Cyber Switch Up 2024. 🙌   The event was the final of a digital & cyber skills competition aimed at students aged 11-18 years in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. Almost 5000 students from schools and colleges across Yorkshire & the Humber had entered, with only 60 reaching the final.   It was great to speak with the children and their guardians about the opportunities that are there for them in the tech channel. 🤝   Would you like to become a TCA ambassador? Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/etgDrxBw

🎉 Tech Channel Ambassadors is delighted to announce our new associate supporter, Usecure 🎉 "We’re passionate about opening students’ eyes to the endless possibilities in the IT world, especially in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity. As a cybersecurity vendor, we understand just how vital it is to inspire the next generation to continue the important work of keeping the digital landscape safe. By raising awareness and offering guidance, we aim to show young people that a career in tech isn’t just a job—it’s an opportunity to make a real impact. We want to help students discover their potential and give them the confidence to step into an exciting and rewarding future in the tech industry." Lorna Burman, usecure “We are delighted to have Usecure as an associate supporter and we are looking forward to working together to change the life opportunities of children and help to resolve the talent shortage in the IT Channel.” Ian Kilpatrick, Chair and Co-Founder, Tech Channel Ambassadors The IT channel in the UK is a £100 billion a year secret. As part of our strategy to change that we need companies and individuals to volunteer to take our message to schools. The IT channel is a great place, with a breadth of career opportunities, and you don’t need to be a coder or an expert at STEM to get into it. Analysis shows that children as young as 11 are self-excluding from considering roles in IT. Volunteering a few hours of your time can transform their lives and help grow the IT channel. If you are interested in becoming a supporter of Tech Channel Ambassadors, please go to https://lnkd.in/ekcNsed6 and sign up. Hayley Roberts Hayley Mooney Lisa Roberts Rebecca Monk

Exciting News! 🎉   We are thrilled to announce that three of our board members, Ian Kilpatrick, Hayley Mooney, and Rebecca Monk, have been recognised among IT Channel Oxygen 25 Most Influential Leaders in the Channel!   This recognition isn't just about their executive titles, it's because of their ability to influence and inspire those around them.   Huge congratulations to all 25 individuals! 👏   Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/e5cShnGs

Do you know how much of your apprenticeship levy isn't used? Why aren't you sharing it? The levy is at a non-trivial .5% of total payroll, and many larger organizations face challenges in spending it. However, the levy rules changed from 22 April 2024. Now, you can transfer up to 50% to other businesses. Utilising unused levy can significantly increase the number of youngsters in the channel and further advertise the IT channel to the next generations. The fundamental benefit of using ALL your Apprenticeship levy is that it directly helps your business grow. These levy changes can help deliver transformative changes. If you have a big payroll, it might be worth checking how much you can share, to help increase your channel and revenue growth. While you're at it, why not Join us at Tech Channel Ambassadors to help get 100,000 youngsters into the IT Channel.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 % 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗖𝗧 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟳 (𝟭𝟭𝘆𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱)     𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝙍͟𝙚͟𝙖͟𝙙͟𝙞͟𝙣͟𝙜͟ ͟𝙪͟𝙣͟𝙞͟𝙫͟𝙚͟𝙧͟𝙨͟𝙞͟𝙩͟𝙮͟ ͟𝙧͟𝙚͟𝙥͟𝙤͟𝙧͟𝙩͟𝙚͟𝙙͟ ͟𝙩͟𝙝͟𝙖͟𝙩͟:͟ in 2015 43% of those taking GCSE in ICT were girls. Last year that number was 21%.  𝘼͟ ͟𝙨͟𝙚͟𝙥͟𝙖͟𝙧͟𝙖͟𝙩͟𝙚͟ ͟𝙨͟𝙩͟𝙪͟𝙙͟𝙮͟ ͟𝙗͟𝙮͟ ͟𝙩͟𝙝͟𝙚͟ ͟𝙪͟𝙣͟𝙞͟𝙫͟𝙚͟𝙧͟𝙨͟𝙞͟𝙩͟𝙮͟ ͟𝙤͟𝙛͟ ͟𝙇͟𝙤͟𝙣͟𝙙͟𝙤͟𝙣͟ ͟(͟𝙐͟𝘾͟𝙇͟)͟ ͟𝙧͟𝙚͟𝙥͟𝙤͟𝙧͟𝙩͟𝙚͟𝙙͟ ͟𝙩͟𝙝͟𝙖͟𝙩͟:͟  “Unfortunately, between the ages of 11 and 14, things seem to start going wrong for the most able children from low-income backgrounds.” Prof John Jerrim, the lead author of the study said. “The failure to fully capitalise on the early potential of this group is likely to be a key reason why the UK is failing to become a more socially fluid society,” the research by academics at University London (UCL) concluded. We’re going backwards in girls in ICT classes, and low-income kids are being left behind at the start of their senior school education. We can all shake our heads at the challenges occurring in our education system, and perhaps moan about the how the channel is still behind the curve on diversity.   Or we could change the dynamic – 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 – I’m sure you care about all these young futures damaged, perhaps permanently, before they’ve even made it through school, for some from as young as 11, don’t you???? Well don’t just like this post, give an hour, that’s not too much of a challenge! (even less impact for you if your company supports volunteering) and join Tech Channel Ambassadors, visit a school and share your experience, good fortune of being in the channel (which they’ll have never heard of – the £100Billion invisible industry), describe the wide range of career opportunities available. And let them know that there are vast opportunities even for those who don’t code or aren’t STEM experts. Join us now and change their lives and perhaps your own? And please reshare this.  Guardian Link ICT https://lnkd.in/dM6ZCUvu #diversity #inclusion #socialmobility #stemcareers #education #stemeducation https://lnkd.in/e-cRTbZk

Interesting interview by MSP Channel Insights on Tech Channel Ambassadors strategic project to tackle the skills shortages in the IT channel. https://lnkd.in/e7pXFdjh #skillsgap #careers #education #talent #nextgeneration

Thanks for sharing this information Doug Woodburn. It’s also great to read what we all have to say on the matter. It’s clear there is so much to do, but great to see that there is so much support and activity across our industry. At the TCA (Tech Channel Ambassadors), we’re focussed on raising awareness into schools, so that we can we further improve the take-up of tech channel jobs, particularly with young women. Thanking Laura Keith, CEO at Hive Learning for providing its AI-powered platform that will help us empower and engage people all over the tech channel to be part of this mission with us. The Hive platform will make a a huge difference to enabling people across our industry educating them on how to approach schools and what to present to them. It will also be a hub of market knowledge on the topic. As we embark on this mission, we’re looking for: Ambassadors - to go into to schools and talk to the pupils Sponsors - companies who are looking to achieve CSR and ESG obligations Contributors - those that can help us fuel the platform and spread the word. Feel free to share, like and comment on this post. We need as far reach as possible. If you’d like to know more, feel free to DM or or better, sign up on https://lnkd.in/eBwyu4tp, and one of us will be in touch. Ian Kilpatrick Hayley Roberts Lisa Roberts Rebecca Monk Wendy Shore Alex Tatham Andy Pugh

Great to see so much interest in Tech Channel Ambassadors following yesterday's launch! Ian Kilpatrick Hayley Roberts Hayley Mooney Alex Tatham Lisa Roberts Andy Pugh Wendy Shore Including: Education Today IT Europa Microscope Comms-Dealer TelconNews https://lnkd.in/e-debVsJ #skillsgap #careers #education #talent #nextgeneration

Tech Channel Ambassadors has launched today!  Join us now and help expand awareness and opportunities. Justyn Leonard Mel Wilks Iain Tomkinson Steven Osprey #skillsgap #careers #education #business #talent #nextgeneration