Skills Guernsey "key" to economic recovery

Thursday 27 August 2020

Digital skills training and support for post-16 education have been crucial elements of the Skills Guernsey Action Plan, according to a recent progress update.

The cross-committee plan, which aims to equip Guernsey with a highly skilled workforce, has focused on supporting the Guernsey Institute, and providing training for important computer-based skills.

The Guernsey Institute hopes to transform higher education in the island by combining the College of Further Education, GTA University Centre and Institute for Health & Social Care under one roof. It currently provides training to more than 4,000 learners, from entry level through to Master’s degrees. 

“The Guernsey Institute takes pride in its ability to horizon scan in order to identify the skills needed by real people, so that they can support the Bailiwick’s growth and economic success,” said Deputy Mark Dorey. “During the covid crisis, the Institute was able to work with Employment & Social Security to offer a range of programmes to support those recently made unemployed.”

It has also offered a free course on CV writing and interview skills, and continues to explore new options to assist the 'Revive and Thrive' strategy.

We're releasing a progress update on the Skills Guernsey Action Plan. Read more: https://t.co/RZssgJROSD pic.twitter.com/mtEyIZsaab

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) August 25, 2020

The progress report also details substantial changes to the island’s delivery of digital skills.

Education, Sport & Culture has changed its curriculum to expand the digital skills taught in high schools, and has expanded the IT resources available to teachers.

The Digital Greenhouse has also been successful in this area, with various programmes to aid learning in schools and more than 200 events in 2019. Starting next month, it will offer ten fully funded scholarships in digital marketing.

“Skills are key to our economic success, and Guernsey has always managed to meet the skills requirements of employers,” said Deputy Andrea Dudley Owen, Vice President of ESC. “Even before the covid-19 pandemic, Skills Guernsey had published an action plan to keep abreast with skills requirements.

“With the recognitions that skills will be key to the recovery of our economy and to meet the challenges ahead, I expect to see greater emphasis and funding for Skills Guernsey in the future.”