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ICT

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is one of the largest of the SWRDA key sectors. This sector has a Gross Value Added (GVA) of £2.6 billion equating to 4.4% of total regional GVA. This contribution to regional GVA is below the average for the other regions in Great Britain (excluding London). Although self-employment is relatively low within this sector, small enterprises (those with fewer than 50 employees) accounts for 98.6% of all business sites.The ICT sector has a high proportion of people employed within professional and managerial occupations and a high proportion qualified to at least Level 3 relative to the regional average across all industry sector (State of the Key Sectors, SWRDA, 2004).

ICT Resources

e-skills UK Newsletter

Good Practice Case Studies in the ICT Sector (Mar 2002)

ICT Action Plan

Learn IT at Work

NVQ Progression Routes - Chapter on ICT (SWRDA, Dec 2003)

Mapping of Skills Supply and Demand in the South West ICT Sector (Feb 2002)

IT User Skills LMI & Skills ForeSight 2001 [.pdf 86KB] (e-skills 2001)

South West Regional Development Agency Priority Sectors Working Paper 7 - Information and Communications Technology (Nov 2000)

South West Regional Development Agency Priority Sectors Working Paper 7 - Information and Communications Technology (Summary) (Nov 2000)

South West RDA SDF Projects on ICT

Telecommunications Strategic Plan for the UK, 2002-2005 (e-skills NTO, 2001)

Workforce Development Plan for the IT Workforce 2001-2004 (e-skills NTO, Jan 2002)

for publications related to ICT.

ICT Links

e-skills UK Ltd
e-skills UK is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) responsible for articulating and acting on the skills needs of employers to improve UK business competitiveness.

Skillset
The SSC for the Audio Visual industries (broadcast, film, video and interactive media).

Intellect
The trade association for the UK hi-tec industry

DTI - Electronics & IT Services
The Department of Trade and Industry pages on the telecommunications sector.

British Computer Society (BCS)
Established in 1957, the BCS is a membership body for those working in IT. With a world-wide membership now over 50,000 members in over 100 countries, BCS is the qualifying body for Chartered IT Professionals (CITP).

National Microelectronics Institute (NMI)
The NMI provides a practical mechanism for commercial and technological development of the microelectronics industry in the UK and Ireland. It is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation funded by members that include fabless semiconductor companies, intellectual property providers, contract design services, integrated device manufacturers, merchant foundries, vendors, service providers, research, academic institutions.

Mobile Operators Association
The Mobile Operators Association (MOA) was established in January 2003 to represent the five UK mobile phone network operators (3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone) on radio frequency health and planning issues.

Digitial Peninsula Network
Digital Peninsula Network is a member organisation serving Cornwall's rapidly growing community of media and ICT professionals and digital creatives. It assists traditional businesses with their aspirations to exploit new technology. It also provides a framework of support for our membership and promote Cornwall as the UK's digital peninsula.

ConnectingSW.net
ConnectingSW contains a wealth of information about ICT developments in South West England and further afield.

Wired West
Wired West is a non-profit making organisation representing this thriving ICT community in the South West.

The Remote Area Broadband Inclusion Trial (RABBIT)
RABBIT is a project aimed at helping small businesses in areas that could not otherwise obtain broadband.

ICT Networks

Smart South West
Network web link 		Smart South West is a not-for-profit, private-public sector partnership which works to promote e-business, e-commerce, new media, networking and communications technologies in the region. Their primary aim is to encourage and support the development of the information society in the SW.
Digital Peninsula Network Limited
Network web link 		The Network represents professional users of digital technology in Cornwall.

It provides a framework of support for their rapidly growing membership and promotes Cornwall as the UK's digital peninsula – a leading region in the development and use of digital technology.

In this section

Sector Specific Resources