Director of BedfordBID Christina Rowe joined a meeting which demonstrated there IS help for small companies seeking IT skills.
MP Richard Fuller invited Minister of State for Skills and Equalities Nick Boles MP to join a platform alongside MatsSoft, a technology business which has recently established an innovation centre in Bedford with international civil engineers Mott McDonald.
Also on the panel was Ian Pryce CBE Principal and CEO of Bedford College and Toby Thompson, Director of Cranfield University.
Richard Fuller MP, is a member of the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee who said: “The digital revolution means the whole way we work will be completely changed - we are lucky to be supported here in Bedford by two institutions: Bedford College and Cranfield University.
“Given the Government’s commitment to create three million apprenticeships by 2020 now is a great opportunity to identify gaps in local skills provision and to shape the content and direction of future courses.”
Ian Pryce talked about the need for ‘digital literacy’ across all age groups to support businesses and how the college was responding to that with 2,000 people going through computer courses at 88 High Street. bedfordittrainingcentre@bedford.ac.uk
MatsSoft has won global recognition for its Low-code technology which enables business to achieve digital transformation with our needing coding skills.
“This was a great opportunity to introduce people to Low-code business-tailored technology we are now offering companies in partnership with an international innovator. We have a local MP who is helping to put Bedford on the national skills map which is a win, win for business,” said Martin Scovell, CEO of MatsSoft.
“At the next BID Breakfast meeting in September we will unveil plans for a survey to establish what businesses need in terms of guidance for IT training and apprenticeships for both young people and upskilling existing work forces,” said Christina,
“So it was very encouraging to hear that in Bedford we have help which covers the whole spectrum of technology help for businesses."