The Mayor of London has launched a new £7m programme to find and develop the next generation of home-grown tech talent in the capital.
Sadiq Khan hopes that the scheme will inspire young people to join London’s digital, tech and creative industries and tackle the under-representation of women and BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) Londoners in the sector.
He has committed an investment of £7m, which aims to plug a growing digital skills shortage in London’s labour market with diverse talent and promote diversity.
The initiative also aims to champion gender equality by increasing the number of women in digital roles.
“London’s thriving digital and tech sector is a world leader. From start-up companies to household names, there’s a huge range of home-grown and international companies here,” Khan said.
“But we need to provide all Londoners with the opportunity to succeed in this industry, particularly women and Londoners of a BAME background who have been under-represented in these fields for too long.”
The programme, funded through London Enterprise Panel and co-funded by the European Social Fund, will offer free industry-approved digital skills training to more than 1,000 young people.
From coding and web development to digital marketing and visual effects, the training courses will equip the next generation of Londoners with the digital skills the capital’s employers need.
The programme will also offer training for 400 teachers and training providers to improve their digital skills and confidence.
Khan added: “I’ve been clear about my ambition to make London the world’s leading Smart City, and to provide the next generation of Londoners with the digital skills employers need will help our tech sector flourish.
“By investing in this new programme and funding free digital skills training, we can encourage more young people to consider a career in tech and fulfil their potential.”