The “skills gap” in the telecoms and ICT industry is well known and has long been an issue for organisations. Recruiting a diverse, well-skilled and enthusiastic workforce continues to be a challenge for employers with many struggling to recruit enough talent.

Encouraging people into the telecoms and ICT industries needs to start at a young age. While many schools are increasingly promoting STEM subjects, lack of knowledge of many industries means that children are not necessarily encouraged into the jobs that require digital skills talent. Ask an average 10-year-old and it is unlikely many will say they want to be a telecoms engineer when they grow up. Better engagement between industry and schools could hopefully change that.

The best, long-term solution to get a skilled workforce into the telecoms and ICT industries is through apprenticeships. PTT has been working with preferred apprenticeship providers for many years to provide the knowledge elements of these apprenticeships. Hundreds of individuals now study PTT courses as part of their apprenticeships every year, giving them the knowledge they need to enter the workforce equipped for a productive future.

Digital apprenticeships supported by PTT include Level 2 Telecoms Field Operative, Level 3 Information Communications Technician and Level 4 Network Engineer. Click here for more information about PTT’s role in delivering telecoms and ICT apprenticeships >>