ManpowerGroup launches new Tech Talent and Training Partnership with QA

In the latest ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Survey, 23% of UK employers reported that they are unable to find the talent they need – the worst shortage since 2008. The tech sector has long been suffering a talent gap as organisations take time to rise to the changes in demand and overcome legacy skills in the market.

Overcoming these talent shortages will not be achieved with a one-size-fits-all approach. The new partnership between the ManpowerGroup brand Experis and QA will build on ManpowerGroup’s build, bridge, borrow and buy-in approach with QA’s wide range of tech training and early careers digital bootcamp services. Together the two companies will provide a comprehensive programme of recruiting and talent building solutions that will allow UK organisations to proactively close their digital skills gap.

Digital transformation is a priority for many businesses across the UK as they accelerate into 2021 and prepare for the ‘new normal’. The rapid change in the way we worked and how customers consumed products and services during the first few months of the pandemic has resulted in digitisation becoming a strategic necessity. The impact of this for the skills gap is huge. Software development, cloud, cyber security, automation and DevOps skills are now in even greater demand than they were pre-Covid. At the same time, the basic level of digital skills required for roles across every business is increasing. 

“We started 2020 with a tech skills gap in the UK, one which Covid-19 has widened as we look at crucial IT roles such as cyber security specialists, cloud and software engineers, to name just a few,” said Martin Ewings, Experis Brand Leader & Operations Director. “It’s no longer a question of simply finding talent; we need to build it. This is why partnerships with training providers like QA are so vital to our clients and candidates. Reskilling our clients’ workforce, as well as our associates, will lead to more sustainable careers for individuals and, in turn, help clients fill in-demand technology roles without going outside of their business, but upskilling from elsewhere in their organisations." 

“As the UK’s largest tech skills and talent provider, we are delighted to announce this new partnership with ManpowerGroup, Experis,” said Srikanth Iyengar, Chief Client Officer at QA. “Looking forward to 2021, it is clear that UK businesses must approach talent differently. QA’s digital bootcamps are a great way of achieving this and already proven with many of our large clients. We take diverse talent screened for aptitude and attitude and then train the successful individuals in key tech disciplines such as agile, cloud and DevOps. Within 12 weeks they are accredited at SFIA level 3. Using alternate ways into tech like this for both career changers and early careers talent will be critical to building the skills our clients need to emerge stronger from the pandemic.”

The new partnership will help organisations to close their skills gap by building talent through the wide range of QA training courses, apprenticeships and early careers talent solutions including digital bootcamps. It will accelerate the ability of Experis and QA’s clients to build new skills within their organisations through bespoke upskilling, reskilling and new talent programmes designed specifically for Experis’ clients. Together, Experis and QA will be able to build talent from non-traditional sources, increasing diversity within tech teams across the UK – be that from different age demographics, varying backgrounds and across genders. Upskilling individuals to become specialised and highly trained talent will enable them to find more in-demand jobs.