The second annual Sheffield Digital Skills Audit is now live and we need to hear from South Yorkshire digital and tech businesses, and businesses that rely on digital technology. Please tell us about your current and future skills requirements and how well education and training organisations and the region’s available talent are meeting those needs. Our survey takes around 20 minutes and the data we collect will help us provide evidence to influence improved skills provision and policies.

We launched the Digital Skills Audit last year, resulting in the first ever data set focussed specifically on the skills needs of our region’s digital and tech businesses. The results gave us a benchmark to measure change against and we are interested to see how this year’s findings compare.

The Digital Skills Audit is an important part of our ongoing work to help address the digital talent and skills gap that exists in South Yorkshire. With the evidence we gather through the survey, we are able to influence improved skills provision and policies.

After we published last year’s report our Director, Mel Kanarek was asked to contribute to discussions relating to the Sheffield Growth Plan, the South Yorkshire Skills Advisory Board and Sheffield City Council’s plans around bootcamps. So, it really does make a difference.

What’s new this year?

To reflect the increasingly difficult economic climate we are operating in, this year’s audit asks questions about changes in the business environment. We’d like up to date insight into hiring freezes, redundancies and reduced investment to help Sheffield Digital and other organisations and institutions in the region provide the best and most relevant support.

Beyond this, the questions we ask are in line with last year’s Skills Audit to help us measure results year on year. The Audit covers a range of topics, from the business you’re working for to skills requirements, education and diversity.

This survey is aimed at businesses and organisations that are either digital
technology businesses or whose operation relies on having staff with digital tech
skills. You will need to know about your organisation’s use of digital technology and the skills that are required, and have knowledge of your organisation’s financial situation and hiring and staff development practices.

The data you provide will be kept completely anonymous and individual data will not be released. We will only contact you to follow up if you have agreed to provide further information.

Like last year, we will use the findings to deliver a summary report which we hope to have ready in November and a full report at the start of the New Year.

You can find out what the 2023 Digital Skills Audit revealed by downloading the report, here.