EMC and X-Forces are partnering for a new initiative that will train ex-military personnel as IT specialists.
An approximate investment of £250,000 will provide up to 20 military veterans with the skills to design, sell and support enterprise IT. The ex-servicemen will then be given support with finding roles in EMC’s partner community or becoming independent EMC resellers.
The move aims to address both the difficulties that veterans face in re-entering society after service and a chronic skills shortage in the IT sector. In particular, EMC predicts that the IT industry will see 700,000 personnel shortages by the end of 2015.
The news comes in the wake of a damning report from the House of Lords claiming that the UK is at risk of being left behind in the digital world economy.
Ian Heath, Director of Public Sector at EMC UK and a former Captain in the British Army, argues that both the public sector and the private sector have a responsibility to tackle the shortage.
He adds, "The UK IT industry faces a very real and alarming shortage of trained IT professionals that threatens to impact our overall economy.
"Providing training for military leavers is one of many ways that we can address this challenge. Our military is full of highly driven and motivated people. Being able to offer them some support during their transition to civilian life is something industry needs to increasingly embrace for our mutual benefit."
