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Digital skills programme secures funding

We’re delighted to be part of a new skills programme in the West of England to support women to find jobs in the digital sector.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has secured £238,000 funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) for the new Women into Digital Jobs, Education and Training (WIDJET) programme.  As part of WIDJET, Knowle West Media Centre will be running a range of training programmes in Spring 2019.

Web design course: From Her Digital

Our creative agency Eight will run a short course in web design and development between May and July 2019: From Her Digital will be open to women aged 18+ who are new to the digital industry.

The programme follows previous ‘From Her’ programmes at KWMC which have supported women to increase their skills and confidence in a range of digital media disciplines including music production, filmmaking and photography.

Over 10 weeks, From Her Digital will provide participants with a solid grounding in tools, techniques and software for web design, development and digital media production.

Application deadline: 9am, Monday 8 April 2019

Digital manufacturing programme: Making It

KWMC: The Factory’s Making It programme will provide an introduction to the tools, techniques and careers associated with digital manufacturing. Through practical sessions, participants will learn a range of skills including how to use digital design software and follow a design process, operate machinery including laser cutters and 3D printers, and design for materials such as wood, fabric, acrylic and card.

Making It will run from May to July 2019 and will include training sessions in 2D and 3D design, one-to-one mentoring, and supported sessions where participants can experiment, prototype and test ideas for their own project.  They will also have the chance to present what they’ve made to potential industry employers at a showcase event, and access specialist masterclasses in topics ranging from Wearable Technology to Virtual Reality.

Application deadline: 9am, Monday 15 April 2019

Making It is open to:

– Women aged 16+ from the Bristol county area

– People of any gender aged 16+ from South Bristol (Ashton, Totterdown, Bedminster, Southville, Knowle, Knowle West / Filwood, Brislington, Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe, Withywood, Stockwood, Whitchurch, Hengrove, Bedminster Down, Highridge)

About WIDJET

As well as KWMC’s training opportunities, Bath College, digital training businesses Mayden Academy and Boomsatsuma and the Dot Project will all be involved in delivering activities and training in Spring and Summer 2019.

WIDJET will work with women across the region, providing digital skills and training from entry-level taster sessions through to high-level industry specified courses. Participants can take part in a range of skills courses, training or seminars designed directly with business needs in mind, with the aim of them securing jobs in digital roles.

Minister for Digital, Margot James said: “I am thrilled to announce that the West of England Combined Authority was one of our Digital Skills Innovation Fund winners. Its fantastic work with Bath College, Mayden Academy, Boomsatsuma, Knowle West Media Centre and the Dot Project will change lives.

“Women are underrepresented in tech roles and this funding aims to help develop a more gender diverse workforce because it is not only the right thing to do but also makes business sense.”

West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “This is fantastic news and supports one of my key ambitions of improving job opportunities across the region. I want to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or personal circumstances, can access support to develop workplace skills so that they can fulfil their potential. Digital and tech is an important part of the West of England’s economy, and businesses have a particular need for skilled employees now, and this demand is expected to grow in future.

“Women are currently under-represented in digital roles and this new project will seek to tackle this by engaging with a wide group of women in communities, with the aim of moving us towards more representative and inclusive employment in digital roles across the region. This could include roles in virtual reality, VFX design or software development.”

More details

More details about the wider WIDJET programme can be found online or by emailing widjet@westofengland-ca.gov.uk

From Her Digital and Making It are part of the Women into Digital Jobs, Education and Training (WIDJET) project. WIDJET is a West of England Combined Authority project, funded by the Government’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

Contact Us

Knowle West Media Centre
Leinster Avenue
Knowle West
Bristol
BS4 1NL
+44 (0) 117 903 0444
enquiries@kwmc.org.uk

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