HIGHLANDS and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is joining forces with Lochaber College to ensure that workers in the area have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to meet the demands of the growing Information, Communications and Telecommunications (ICT) sector.
A skills survey is shortly to be carried out in order to ascertain the level of skills currently available amongst the local labour force and identify any skills shortages. The initiative is supported by managers of Lochaber College who will use the information from the household survey to develop and provide new courses specifically designed to plug any skills gaps which the survey shows.
HIE head of operations in Fort William, David Oxley, said: “The availability of a skilled workforce is seen as a priority by employers. Feedback to us from the ICT sector indicates that in Lochaber there is lack of the skills required and that is something we are keen to address.
“The aim of the survey is to collect information on core skills for the ICT sector that will be used to assist the college in course provision. The survey will also provide HIE with background information to help business growth and promote investment.”
Mr Oxley added: “The skills survey is one of the several projects that we’re developing in Lochaber to encourage the growth of employment and population in the area.”
Questionnaires are being sent to households in the area via the free, monthly Lochaber Life magazine, which has a print run of around 11,000 copies. In order to encourage people to take part, all returned questionnaires will be entered into a prize draw.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. You too can post a media release (aka a press release) on allmediascotlan.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Kim Thain
Phone: 01463 244238
Email: kim.thain@hient.co.uk
Website: http://www.hie.co.uk
