Dynamo, the region’s tech champion, is recruiting a new team to deliver a major project that aims to create hundreds of jobs.

The Digital Talent Engine for the North East is part of the North of Tyne Combined Authority’s £12m Digital Growth and Innovation Programme designed to grow the region’s tech sector. The programme aims to create jobs hundreds of jobs in a ‘digital ecosystem’ of mutually supportive tech businesses and organisations. In addition to the £12m Programme, NCTA has allocated a further £7m for a 5G and a Future Connectivity Fund.

The plans include providing £5m to support start-ups and unlock the potential of digital and tech businesses, working with partners including Dynamo and Innovation SuperNetwork.

Dynamo Director Cate Kalson explained: “Our Digital Talent Engine is about campaigning to inspire and encourage people to get into digital and technology careers from a range of starting positions. Research that we have done indicates many people outside of the industry do not understand the breadth of opportunities available and consider roles in tech to be out of their reach. We want to change this.

“The Talent Engine is part of NTCA’s drive to grow the region’s tech ecosystem – in order to support the sustainable growth of the regional sector we need employers in the region activity playing a role in developing the region’s digital and technology skills and we need to more effectively communicate about the opportunities available in a way that engages diverse audiences and communities.

“Our NCTA funding of £380,000 over the next three years will be match funded by sponsorship and support from partners and stakeholders.

“The funding enables us to put together a project team to drive us forward and we’ve already started recruitment activity. We need a dedicated, full-time project lead and at least another two part-time people to look at areas such as events, marketing and promotion, and diversity and inclusion,” said Cate.

“We’re really excited to have started the project, which will be overseen by an expert panel of business and education leaders that will help steer what we’re doing as well as monitor performance,” she added.

Dynamo Chair Charlie Hoult added: “The Digital Talent Engine has huge potential to clear a bottleneck within the sector.

"More than 20 per cent of job openings in Newcastle are digital and it is estimated there are currently more than 4,000 vacancies in the Dynamo digital network in which more than 40,000 people are employed.

"So the main thing that can slow down our digital boom – which shows no sign of slowing anytime soon – is the right talent in the right numbers.

 

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