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We realise every organisation is busy and under duress right now and as a team have discussed that we don’t want to add to this, therefore will only send out these more regular Digital Skills Covid-19 updates when there’s a sufficient quantity of new opportunities and news to share. When we looked back across all the emails we’ve received though since the last update we realised there’s still a lot of new digital support for individuals, businesses, young people and communities – hence here’s update no.3!
We hope you finding it useful, please let us know your feedback and share with friends and colleagues. We’d also love to hear if you have a story of digital tools and skills resilience. In the meantime keep caring and connected 🙂
Charlotte, Claire and Julie
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Good News Stories
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Learning People investing £1 million in the Next Gen of Tech Professionals
The Learning People have launched an online learning grant funding programme to support individuals on their technical career journeys to develop the skills they need; making available a portfolio of coding, cybersecurity, project management and IT courses.
The fund will prioritise support for individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 and/or looking to increase their job security through up-skilling or retraining.
Available to all new Learning People course enrolments from 8 April until 30 June.
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DevicesDotNow – Future Now
Supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, FutureDotNow is working with industry partners to support the 1.9 million households across the UK who do not have currently have access to the internet and are digitally excluded.
Recognising that digital inclusion is more vital than it has ever been during this period of Covid-19 social distancing measures, the DevicesDotNow campaign is asking businesses to donate tablets, smartphones and laptops, sims and dongles to help protect and empower the most vulnerable households in the UK.
The Digital Skills Partnerships are engaging with FutureDotNow both to provide information on where digital exclusions exist across the region and local organisations that could support. Through this regional intel gathering, we aim to ensure resources are distributed equally across the region. If you are a school or a community group aware of families affected by digital exclusion please get in touch at charlotte.collyer@heartofswlep.co.uk
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Ted Wragg Trust Raising Funds to buy IT equipment for pupils
The Ted Wragg Trust has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £40,000 of funding to support disadvantaged pupils across Exeter with purchasing the IT equipment they need to continue their learning online.
The Trust aims to support pupils who currently lack IT equipment, ensuring that these pupils do not fall behind with their education and social interaction during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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CompTIA IT Fundamentals
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CompTIA is offering free e-learning qualification CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) for displaced workers, students, career changers or anyone else who has ever thought about working in information technology.
CompTIA ITF+ helps professionals to decide if a career in IT is right for them and helps students or career changers determine if they have a competency for information technology. It covers many areas of IT, creating a broader understanding of IT and making it ideal for non-technical professionals.
This is a 30-day free online course which covers the basics you need to know to start your new IT career.
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Devon County Council has launched Digital Advantage a new programme of free business support and training for SMEs in North Devon, West Devon, Mid Devon and Torridge. Online training workshops commence next week with Maximising Business Opportunities in a Remote Environment, a Focus on Facebook, Perfecting Presentations and an Introduction to Photography.
This programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund so please check eligibility in the links.
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Last Chance to Sign Up to a Fully-Funded 12-week Online Data Science Course
In support of all the local Somerset & Devon businesses and employees facing disruption at the moment, the Heart of the South West Digital Skills Partnership and the Learning People have opened up an additional 10 fully-funded places on our bespoke online learning in Data Science and Digital Transformation.
This course is ideal for anyone who is looking to develop their skillset using Data Science (either within their current role or as part of a career change) and who has the capacity at the moment to avail of the opportunity.
Course Length: 12-weeks
Learning/ Practice Hours: 15-20 hours per week
Start date: 24th April
Modules: Python, Data Science, Digital Transformation, Business Implementation, Machine Learning
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Funding Opportunities
£20m Innovate UK Tech Fund to boost UK Resilience
A funding package worth £20m has been announced by the Government and Innovate UK to help businesses boost the UK’s resilience to the long-term impact of coronavirus and similar future situations.
Technology businesses will be able to apply for grants of up to £50,000 to help develop new ways of working and enhance certain industries, with a focus on reactive responses.
“These could be proposals to help the distribution of goods, educate children remotely, keep families digitally connected and even new ideas to stream music and entertainment. The UK needs a great national effort and Innovate UK is helping by unleashing the power of innovation for people and businesses in need.â€
Projects are set to begin by June 2020, lasting six months, and will aim to provide products and services to the public by the end of the year.
Opens 3rd of April and closes 17th of April 2020
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Upcoming Webinars
BT Skills for Tomorrow: Preparing for a career in today’s digital workplace
When: 17/04/20 11:00 – 12:00
What: This interactive webinar is designed to help you make the most of self-isolation and gain some valuable Work Ready skills.
Register here
Timewade: Technology and IT
When: 17/04/20 8:30 – 9:15
What: Part of the Technology for Success Essential Guidance for SMEs webinar series.
Register here
Google Digital Garage: Writing for Social Media
When:17/04/20 10:00 – 11:00
What: Learn how to create compelling content and develop a tone of voice that’s right for your business.
Register here
We Are The City: The Future World of Work – Technological Disruption: Friend or Foe?
When: 21/04/20 12:00 – 12:45
What: Know what changes and trends we are seeing in the world of work through technological disruption and explore the workplace impact and effect of emerging technology, including AI and robotics, on women and across wider society.
Register here
BT Skills for Tomorrow: Design and develop digital business ideas
When: 21/04/20 15:00 – 16:00
What: Support to develop your ideas for an online business.
Register here
Google Digital Garage: Digital Marketing Strategy
When: 21/04/20 09:30 – 10:30
What: An introduction to the main digital marketing channels and how to use them to build a strategy.
Register here
Google Digital Garage: Get Started with Digital Advertising
When: 21/04/20 11:00 – 12:00
What: Learn about search, social and display advertising and how to get started with advertising a business.
Register here
Enterprise Nation: Using Content Marketing to Capture Leads While You Sleep
When: 21/04/20 9:00 – 10:00
What: In this workshop, you will learn how to create a successful content marketing strategy to help you reach your audience and boost conversions.
Register here
Microsoft: South West Schools Training Event
When: 22/04/20 16:30 – 18:45
What: Delivered by Microsoft and Hele’s School in Plymouth, the event will cover lots of free resources to help schools embrace IT as well as enable them and their students to access remote learning.
Register here
Lloyds Bank Academy: Running Your Business From Anywhere Online
When: 23/04/20 10:15 – 11:30
What: Value of remote working, tools available focussed on collaboration and communication
Register here
Enterprise Nation: How to Create Video On A Budget
When: 23/04/20 13:00 – 14:00
What: Learn how to make a professional and polished video on a budget, regardless of whether you use a cinema camera, iPhone, GoPro or DSLR.
Register here
Skill Up and Cosmic: How To Sell Online and Enhance Your Business
When: 23/04/20 14:00 – 16:00
What: Sell online using forms, e-commerce websites and payment options Paypal and Stripe. Review new business models, learn about freelancing online and platforms to gain and connect with clients.
Register here
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Resources for Businesses
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Future Sync – The Show Must Go-Online (16 -17th April 2020)
Future Sync is a Plymouth based tech conference keeping you in-sync with the latest digital trends.
The event will be broadcast online, with a line-up of internationally acclaimed speakers, industry leaders and hidden gems from the South West and beyond.
Tune in to see talks on topics as diverse as resilient web design, content marketing, accessibility in VR and climate change to name just a few.
Tickets are free, and the event will be easy to dip in and out of to catch the speakers and topics that are most relevant to you.
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Cyberwell Project
The Cyberwell Project which was developed and launched by the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council to support SMEs in Dorset, is now free to access for all Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across the South of England.
The project focuses on improving cybersecurity awareness within SMEs, through an online platform. Starting in May 2020 over a two-month period, the project is open to one person per organisation.
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