The UK Government is paving the way towards a successful future in IT as it ramps up digital skills with 2,500 new tech recruits. The new recruits will be in digital roles in government by June 2025 through new apprenticeship and early talent programmes, the Cabinet Office has announced.
This new initiative announced by the Government is being kickstarted by the new digital apprenticeship programme, which will support the recruitment of 500 early career entrants into digital roles this financial year across government.
This novel programme will provide the opportunity for both civil servants and new entrants to be recruited into the most in-demand data and technology roles, such as Cyber Security Technologists and Software Developers.
The remaining 2,000 opportunities will include 1,300 additional digital apprenticeship programme roles and 700 roles created through an expansion of existing departmental digital programmes, such as the Software Developer Programme.
Meanwhile, some of the UK’s best technical minds from industry are being called to work on the country’s biggest challenges, such as cybersecurity and new emerging technology, with the launch of a new Digital Secondments Programme scheme which is now open for applications.
Both of these major digital skills announcements build on the vision of Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin to modernise and reform the civil service, set out in a speech to Policy Exchange in July this year.
Alex Burghart, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, said: “We want the next generation of tech talent to be able to learn their trade helping government to make services better for the public. These apprenticeships are going to build great new digital careers and capabilities both in Whitehall and across the country.”
The Civil Service Digital, Data and Technology profession has grown by 19% between April 2022 and April 2023 and over 600 senior civil servants have been upskilled on digital and data essentials.
Both the digital secondments programme and new apprenticeship recruitment drive will also support a new target for 6% of the overall Civil Service workforce to be members of the digital, data and technology profession.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin, commented: “[This] announcement drives forward our plans for a modern Civil Service equipped with the skills and capabilities needed to harness the power of digital, data and technology.
“By attracting and retaining the best talent, we will keep pace with technological change and deliver more efficient services for the British public.”
These announcements arrive as the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) published an update to the 2022-25 roadmap for digital and data.
The updated roadmap announces the publication of a new framework for the government’s use of Generative AI, to ensure departments can confidently and responsibly use this technology to improve services. This comes as the UK is set to host the first AI Summit in November.
It also introduces a requirement for departments using out-of-date IT systems to boost plans for modernising technology, in a bid to save government time and money.
“The new roadmap commitments published strengthen the government’s ability to harness the very best technology and data available to improve people’s lives and livelihoods in the UK,” said Megan Lee Devlin, Chief Executive of the Central Digital and Data Office.
“We look forward to welcoming more purpose-minded technologists across government as we announce our skills drive,” she said.
Significant progress has been made across government since the launch of the roadmap one year ago.
Notably, the roadmap has driven crucial digital initiatives across departments. For example, the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs has enhanced its digital and technical apprenticeships offering through the Digital, Data and Technology Services (DDTS) Academy, with a special focus on Cloud and Security roles.
These announcements come as the government seeks to leverage the potential of technology and data to enhance UK public services and better deliver for the taxpayer.
Analysis undertaken when the roadmap was published in 2022 estimated potential savings of over £1 billion of taxpayer money through the Digital Transformation of services, by eliminating the unnecessary costs of paper-based services and processes.
Dr Yi Ding, Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Gillmore Centre for Financial Technology, commented:“Education remains a central pillar in developing digital skills, equipping the future workforce and opening doors up to opportunities such as these. It’s great to see that the government is keen to recruit new talent through the likes of apprenticeships and create new roles to facilitate the ever-evolving tech sector.
“The sector plays a key role in driving the UK economy and academic research centres provide great research and development hubs to better and bolster the tackling of the skills crisis.”
Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group, said: “It’s encouraging that the government is investing heavily in the next generation of tech talent. At a time when AI and Machine Learning are at the top of the agenda for many boardrooms, the public sector has a fantastic opportunity to harness these technologies, enabling faster, more efficient public services.
“Apprenticeships are a key gateway for many young people to enter the world of work and this initiative will be both beneficial in terms of operations and empowering the government to build a more diverse workforce, made up of people from all backgrounds,” she added.
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