How to develop digital leaders in your business
Digital leaders are the future
As digital technologies continue to transform the world of tech, businesses are looking to the future. With a new laser focus on data and AI, the essential foundation to conquering this new frontier is strong digital leadership.
In today's blog, we’ll explore how degree apprenticeship training solutions can equip your business with the digital experts and leaders you need for the road ahead.
It’s time to move on from outdated recruitment methods
The digital skills gap continues to widen. Collectively, UK businesses will not be able to close it using the same tried, tested (and failing) tools of costly recruitment.
Why? The answer is threefold.
- Lack of available talent makes your search endless, and fruitless
- Competitive salaries price many organisations out of the digital talent market
- Upskilling from within can be too expensive, time consuming, and rigid to fit around work and business priorities.
Could apprenticeships offer the solution? They allow businesses to either recruit or upskill talent in the specific skills they need, and are levy-funded by the government, helping you, your employees and new recruits to get ahead.
But, apprenticeships can only take you so far, right?
Wrong.
Apprenticeships aren’t just for junior talent
It’s a common misconception that Apprenticeships are just for young people, and entry level talent.
In fact, 42% of apprentices this past year have been aged 25 or over.
QA’s apprenticeship programmes track all the way to degree and master’s level, for highly qualified, specialist talent including digital leaders who can shape your business’s future.
For example, let us introduce BSc Digital Technology Solutions. This level 6 programme is designed to develop talent who create innovative digital solutions. With pathways in Data Analysis, IT Consultancy, Network Engineering and Software Engineering, this versatile course can equip talent for any area of your business where digital solutions are needed most.
No matter the vacancy you need to fill, from Software testers to Database specialists, Software developers to Systems engineers, we’ve got you covered.
Our degree apprenticeships create the leaders of tomorrow
So, this could be the programme to transform your workforce, but what makes QA so special?
It’s not just our highly qualified tutors, diverse portfolio, funded solutions and unrivalled alliance of vendor partnerships… it’s our unique delivery model that sets us apart.
Our ground-breaking digital delivery method for degree apprenticeships blends modern university learning with virtually accessible content and self-guided learning, to make degree level workplace study work for everyone.
Not only does the flexibility of our training allow every apprentice to tailor their routine to the way they learn best, lifestyle and background, the fully government-backed funding makes senior-level talent transformation available to every business, through the apprenticeship levy.
If your annual wage bill is more than £3 million, you already have reserved levy funds to use! If not, you can still access funds via the Apprenticeship service, and pay just 5% of the costs. Small businesses with less than 50 employees can access 100% funding to train apprentices aged 16-18, or those aged 19-24 who have previously been in care or have an Education, Health and Care plan.
Learn more about the apprenticeship levy or talk to us directly in a free consultation!
What’s not to love?
In sum, this is an apprenticeship programme that can fill various digital talent needs, supports a diverse pool of learners, accelerates business impact without removing employees from their active role… and it doesn’t have to break your budget.
If you’re ready to start your business’s journey toward embedded, innovative digital talent, get in touch with us today.
Digital Leadership FAQs
What is digital leadership?
A digital leader embraces technology and change, understanding the role that it plays in the future of an organisation. They also understand the role it plays in helping a business modernise and achieve it’s strategic goals.
It often goes hand in hand with a period of digital transformation, whether it’s the adopting of cloud computing software, advancing cyber security practices or developing strategies for big data and the implementation of AI.
Soft skills play a key role in Digital Leadership too. To drive change and transformation, digital leaders are required to explain complex technologies and software in simple and digestible terms that resonate with other business functions.
The emergence and development of AI, there are some potentially huge implications for businesses on the horizon, and it’s those with a digital-first mindset that are likely to play a leading role.
What makes a good digital leader?
Being a good digital leader is about more than just understanding the technology and software. A strong digital leader knows how to bring others in their organisation on that journey with them.
It’s not just recognising the benefits of new systems and software, but working towards the implementation and integration of that technology into that business. This includes explaining the benefits of the change, training teams to use that technology and measuring the benefits.
A degree apprenticeship offers learners with a chance to pick up many of these skills, giving them the tools and skills they need to grow into the future leaders of your organisation.
The benefits of digital leadership
Embracing and investing in digital leaders can have many benefits for businesses. Not only are these people likely to be visionaries, with an eye on the future, but they can help your organisation future-proof against future change and new technology.
By training in emerging technologies such as data, AI and cloud computing, learners gain valuable knowledge that they can bring to the rest of an organisation.