Closing the Digital Skills Gap

The digital skills gap has reached a pivotal point with companies facing new challenges in a digital-first world. However, there’s just not enough people with the right digital skills to power the transformations expected now and in the future.

The global technology industry is currently experiencing a low supply yet high demand for people with digital skills and the gap is continuing to widen. Decisions made by companies now about how and whether to solve the digital skills gap will echo for future generations.

What is the digital skills gap?

Digital skills refer to the ability of an individual utilising digital devices, communication applications and networks to access and manage information. Anything from basic online searching to emailing and specialised programming and development are all forms of a digital skillset.

Over the past 18 months, the number of emerging technologies have accelerated to require more digital skills to power them and with this seismic shift, it has widened the already large skills gap being experienced within the technology workforce.

With the demand for tech talent increasing and outpacing the already short supply, a unique opportunity has arisen for companies to add value to their own businesses and drive equity in the communities where they operate.

Bridging the digital gap

Addressing the digital skills gap has been globally recognised as an important driver to increase business competitiveness, employee performance and customer satisfaction. It is important for technology companies to play a role in encouraging and even providing digital opportunities by:

• Promoting tech careers as a platform for lifelong learning
• Delivering far-reaching programmes that are accessible to all
• Opening recruitment opportunities to be more skills focussed
• Creating non-traditional pathways into the tech industry

Now more than ever businesses need to work to ensure that training scales up to match the growing digital demand and accelerate recovery and growth. 

Coacto’s Salesforce Apprentice 

Coacto is committed to bridging the widening digital skills gap for our industry’s future success by leveraging talent into the Salesforce ecosystem. 

To do our bit and help bridge the gap in the technology industry our last 3 hires into the company have all come from a non Salesforce background. With our latest hire, Coacto are proud to be working directly with LDN Apprenticeships. Together we are working to deliver an effective training programme for our Salesforce Apprentice.

We were absolutely delighted to welcome Charlotte Townsend onto our team as our Salesforce Apprentice earlier this year. As part of the learning and accreditations experiences with LDN Apprenticeships, over the next 18 months Charlotte will complete the Level 4 Salesforce Consultant Apprenticeship and go on to achieve the Level 4 IS Business Analyst and Salesforce Certified Administrator credential. 

To help other young people looking into potential career opportunities in the tech industry and to encourage a digital career, Charlotte will be documenting her Salesforce experiences and knowledge along the way with Apprentice Hoots blogs.

“As a young adult looking for a new opportunity in the technology industry, I wanted to learn more about the services that Salesforce could provide and build my knowledge on business consulting. I then took the initiative to register on Trailhead and began my search for a Salesforce Apprenticeship with LDN Apprenticeships – and the rest is history!” Charlotte Townsend on her Salesforce Apprenticeship.

Join the technology revolution

It is expected that over the next decade, the demand for digital skills will be amplified by around 50% due to emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI and despite ICT having the highest earning potential for graduates, the share of new entrants is low at just 5%. 

Salesforce is hugely understanding that there is no one skills gap and no one-size fits all and that’s why they offer a wide variety of development programmes. The company supports up-skilling through a variety of platforms, projects, initiatives, and investments that offer something to everyone. These efforts work together to help people of all backgrounds find and confidently progress their own skilling journey to rewarding, life-changing employment.

Interested in up-skilling or becoming a digital master? Discover the workforce development programmes below:

• Trailhead Training: Salesforce’s free online learning platform Trailhead delivers a raft of trailblazing apprenticeship, skilling, grants and philanthropic programmes internationally.
• Salesforce’s Futureforce: This University recruiting program is dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing graduate talent.
• Trailblazer Mentorships: Connect mentees to opportunities to land dream jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem. All levels are welcome with no degree or prior Salesforce work experience required.
• Salesforce Talent Alliance: This initiative connects partner companies to a diverse pool of Salesforce-trained candidates in an effort to skill up the workforce of the future.
• Pathfinder Training Program: launched in 2018 in collaboration with Deloitte, this is a workforce development initiative designed to train individuals with the technical, business and soft skills necessary to pursue a career in the Salesforce ecosystem. 
• Salesforce Military: Offering free, online training classes and certification exams at no cost for active-duty military, veterans, and military spouses. Salesforce connects a talented pipeline with partner companies to help grow, strengthen, and diversify their workforce.
• Trailblazer Connect: Connect to mentorship and career opportunities through events and online resources.