Mayor of London & UKIE investigating digital skill shortfall

The Mayor of London's office has engaged UK trade body UKIE in a three year joint study to investigate the shortcomings of digital skill provision in the capital, hoping to create a better environment for education, employment and industry.

The study is to be funded with a £5 million investment from the London Enterprise Panel as part of a larger initiative to promote growth in the city. UKIE will be building on its involvement in the Next Gen Skills campaign and grassroots work with secondary schools to help provide the programme with vital data on which skills are under served by the current educational environment.

"The research and recommendations on how to shape proper support for schools to deliver new creative digital skills will be relevant not just to London, but elsewhere in the country," said Next Gen Skills co-ordinator Theo Blackwell. "We are grateful to the Mayor of London for leading the way on this and recognising that nuturing our talent from an early age is vitally important."

"Skills and talent are a top priority for the games industry," added UKIE CEO Jo Twist. "Ukie is leading the way not just lobbying government for change, but being part of it with our hands-on work with schools and games companies. London's tech sector can only grow further if we support schools and colleges, equipping them with the tools necessary to teach 21st century skills"

UKIE is also currently engaged in the Digital Schoolhouse campaign, which is trialling the efficacy of using games to teach children. Early results are proving very positive, we're told, and the initiative is expected to be extended.