e-skills Summit - The Regional Response John Parsonage Director of Regional Learning and Skills South East England Development Agency

Role of RDAs Further economic development and regeneration Promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness Promote employment Enhance the development and application of skills Contribute to the achievement of sustainable development

Why is SEEDA involved? Planning for the future - Foresight Responding to key South East employers Importance of skills – particularly ICT Development of work skills - outside national curriculum Innovative idea, need organisation prepared to pilot Therefore crucial work in partnership and link in with other developments

IT Skills Acquisition and application of IT skills critical to the knowledge economy

The Rise of the New Economy The new economy marks a shift from an industrial economy to a knowledge economy, driven by rapid advances in IT, especially the internet IT has made knowledge the new competitive resource, but knowledge only flows through technology - it resides in people IT has increased the pace of change, making flexibility and adaptability the name of the game - for organisations and for people New Economy, New Skills, BSL - August 2001 Prepared for Skills Insight

Employer Needs Source: Annual Skills Review 2001 Skills Insight

Clear Profiles of ICT Rich and ICT Poor: –At the extreme, ICT Rich are Male, 25-45, Full time employed in higher order occupations, and living in proximity of London –At the extreme, ICT Poor are 55+ –At the extreme, ICT Poor are female, not in work and living in the South of the region Where there are children in a household, far more likely to have computer and internet access (could be age related) Wired Region Research: SEEDA 2000

Clear Polarisation in views on, and enthusiasm for the internet –More positive amongst young people –Tails off amongst the 45+ (a key workforce group for the future) –Less positive amongst low income groups, and lower order occupations Work access really only applies to those in higher order jobs –Others have to be motivated to have home access Wired Region Research: SEEDA 2000

Access to Computers Important Day to day access - more widespread with intermediate and high skilled Low skilled - more likely to access at home rather than work High skilled more than 3 times as likely to have access at home and work Less than half employed in small businesses have access at work Low skilled with access are more likely to undertake training Skills Audit, Skills Insight - July 2001

SEEDA’s Response E-skills into Business Computer Clubs 4 Girls Wired Region - development of learning portal - gateway to provision Mapping of IT provision - can we improve access / skill levels?

e-Skills into Business Working with Business Links in the South East Region on marketing programme to SMEs Working closely with SEEDA Sector Group LLSCs in the region supporting delivery through agreed action plans / cofinancing ESF Funding being secured

e-Skills into Business Over SMEs have been contacted through mailing UK Online for Business - 1.7m hits by SMEs on website seeking diagnostics, training and ESiB marketing package Plans for further roll out and dissemination of best practice across the regions in progress

Computer Clubs 4 Girls Likes (spontaneous) Find out things for fun Find out things for homework Games It’s fun/entertaining It’s interesting I find out things quickly Help with school/homework Easy to use and Chat rooms Base: All who use the internet (1029) Q38/39 What do you like most/least about the Internet?

15-16 Base: All who use the internet (1029) Q39. What do you like least about using the internet? (spontaneous) CC4G - Internet Dislikes Nothing41 Too slow / takes too long31 Hard to find what you want10 I’m not allowed too long as too expensive5 Too expensive Too slow / takes too long34 Nothing29 Hard to find what you want11 Too many adverts9 Too expensive7 Hard to find way around6 Too slow / takes too long38 Nothing22 Hard to find what you want14 Too many adverts12 Too expensive9 Hard to find way around site5

The Internet - Role in their Lives The Internet plays a number of different roles in children’s lives Surfing Favourite sites - games, downloads, cheats InterestHomeworkOne 2 OneWith Friends Entertainment Information Communication

Constants Over the Past 3½ Years Despite girls achieving equality in terms of using the Internet, boys still more likely to be the experts on the Internet Boys and girls use the Internet in different ways –Girls - Communication –Boys - Doers Frustrations with the Internet remain –Too slow –Embarrassing sites –Difficulty finding sites

Wired Region To enable all people and all businesses to live and prosper in the developing information society and knowledge economy

Wired Region - Aims Identify gaps in the knowledge base of individuals and businesses and work with partners to fill these gaps. Identify gaps in access provision, particularly Broadband services, which justify remedial action by SEEDA with appropriate partners. Identify gaps in web based information, education and business services to which SEEDA and partners can make a value added difference, and to work to close these gaps.

Broadband Activities Local Loop BroadbandHigh Speed Broadband BT ADSL rollout mapping Cable TV company Mapping Mapping rollout of other companies Wireless provider mapping Fixed Wireless Auctions Alternative technologies Fibre infrastructure mapping Opening up SuperJANET Local purchasing consortia formation pilots Enterprise Hub broadband network Coastal Superhighway Hastings Broadband Discussions with Telecommunications companies

Web Developments Regional Portal Business Portal Sector Group Websites Community Portal Learning Portal Government Portal Regional Observatory Finance South East Tourist BoardsBURA Portal SEEDA Corporate Website SEEDA Intranet & Extranet Enterprise Hub Intranet & Extranet Trade Partners UK Small Business Service Other public sector partner sites Private sector information providers

Next Steps Development of solutions that are effective, efficient and responsive Feeds into: ICT Strategy for the South East - Regional Economic Strategy e-skills Action Plan