Agilisys backs FastFutures skills programme for young people

Agilisys among group of leading global employers to provide investment and mentoring for pioneering digital skills programme. Agilisys, the technology and transformation partner for the public sector, is backing a groundbreaking digital skills programme that will provide education leavers with the vital workplace skills needed to secure part or full-time employment. FastFutures, created by Blenheim […]

Agilisys among group of leading global employers to provide investment and mentoring for pioneering digital skills programme.

Agilisys, the technology and transformation partner for the public sector, is backing a groundbreaking digital skills programme that will provide education leavers with the vital workplace skills needed to secure part or full-time employment.

FastFutures, created by Blenheim Chalcot, is a unique programme designed to provide participants with the skills valued by employers, now and in the future, while addressing the impact of Covid-19. The aim is to futureproof careers and limit a potentially damaging skills gap for the latest generation of education leavers at a time when the UK has never seen a greater demand for digital skills, which range from data analytics to digital marketing.

The inaugural 12-week programme will launch with 1,000 free places, before being scaled up to provide tens of thousands of free places annually.

Joining Agilisys as founding employers providing the investment and content to create the programme are: AstraZeneca, AO.com, Barclays, Blenheim Chalcot, BT, Legal & General, Modulr, Health Education England and its partner NHS bodies, Octopus Group, Salary Finance, Standard Chartered and Tate & Lyle.

More business partners are expected to join, and plans are afoot to work with the 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships across the country. FastFutures is also in discussions with various Government departments to determine how the programme can most effectively accelerate take up of existing Government schemes.

Working with these companies, participants will experience both virtual and physical learning experiences, including access to employers through virtual business visits, live CEO Q&A sessions, and employer-led mentoring. The programme will culminate in an employer interview in preparation for the beginning of working life.

Online learning will be delivered by Blenheim Chalcot company, Avado, a specialist in the provision of digital vocational skills, and supported by Blenheim Chalcot’s Hive Learning, enabling “a modern, social learning experience”.

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to FastFutures. The programme will use a carefully tailored, and fully inclusive recruitment process to appeal to and prioritise underrepresented groups to deliver a diverse cohort of participants. FastFutures is also partnering with outreach networks to encourage under-represented groups to apply from a truly diverse range of ethnic, socio-economic, geographical and gender identities.

The founding employers have committed the financial resources to ensure the programme is free for all participants.

Andrew Mindenhall, CEO of Agilisys, commented:

“The most successful businesses will be those that combine the creativity and innovation of young people with the limitless opportunities presented by data and technology. I’m very proud that Agilisys will be a member of FastFutures because we will be seeing the future leaders of digital transformation inspired right here.”

Applications for the programme are now open, with the initial application window running until 13th August 2020, after which time applications will remain open for future cohorts.

Further details are available at www.avadolearning.com/fastfutures.