Talent & skills programme 2013

We run a number of events, initiatives and projects focusing on digital skills in the north west: helping members find, develop and retain talent, and promoting employment opportunities in the digital sector. Here are some of the initiatives we are working on in 2013:

Peer Club

Peer Club is a Manchester Digital programme facilitated by Hyper Island which brings together people in similar roles and levels in the digital sector to enable personal career development. Manchester Digital will match you to a Peer Club (comprised of 4-8 people) based on your level of experience, role, industry and location. Peer Club aims to become a tool for employers to nurture their employees' development and for employees to take ownership of their personal career growth.

Apprenticeship Matching Service

Manchester Digital is working with the National Apprenticeship Service to provide a high quality, free, matching service for digital businesses who would like to employ an apprentice.  We will help to identify potential candidates and hold a list of 'quality approved' training providers  who will deliver high quality digital apprenticeships, making sure the training your apprentice received is industry standard and relevant to the job.  Our service uses a number of different models making sure there is a scheme suitable for your business whatever the size.

MD Graduate Placement Scheme 

A dedicated recruitment and matching service for businesses wishing to recruit graduates. The placement opportunities will be promoted to all the universities in the north west and will appear on our website’s Student Zone.  We have a growing student membership so please let us know if you have vacancies you would like to post. Contact katie@manchesterdigital.com.

Employer Engagement Forum

Set up to work on the skills issues and needs raised at the Skills Summit, the group consists of digital employers from different sub-sectors, sizes and the supply chain. It will meet quarterly to articulate employer needs, influence policy and intervene directly to help create the next generation of digital talent. Contact Katie Gallagher katie@manchesterdigital.com if you are interested in taking part.

Education Group

The Education Group brings together universities, apprenticeship providers, colleges and schools interested in engaging with digital businesses. The group, which complements the Employer Forum, aims to make it easier for digital businesses to find graduates, placements and students for work experience and to help shape the future of course content and delivery.

Wiki Course List

Manchester Digital is now maintaining a list of digital and related courses at colleges and universities in Greater Manchester.

The Skills Summit & TalentDay

The Manchester Digital Skills Summit is an annual conference bringing together education providers, employers, policy makers and digital businesses to discuss and address the digital skills issues in the region. The next conference will be held on 21 February 2013 at Manchester Town Hall.  You can read last year's agenda here and a report here..

TalentDay runs every year in conjunction with the Skills Summit. Students from all four Greater Manchester universities and others in the North meet and network with digital businesses, to learn, get acquainted and find placements and jobs. In 2012 it attracted over 900 students from as far afield as Birmingham and Huddersfield.  Forty employers including TBWA, BJL, Madhouse, JD Sports and Code Computerlove exhibited and there were over 100 graduate jobs up for grabs. The next TalentDay will be on 20 February 2013 and has bee expanded to accommodate 80 businesses and 2000 students.

Document: 

Skills Summit 2012 report

MDSS2012TimetableAgendav8.pdf