Optix MD Invited To Meet Minister For Higher Education

Optix MD Rob Stevens was recently invited to Exeter College to meet Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Michelle Donelan.

The Minister was visiting the college’s sector-leading Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre which helps to drive growth and widen opportunities in the digital industry.

Along with Rob, she met with Exeter College Deputy CEO Rob Bosworth, Director of Adult and Higher Education Lucinda Sanders and Head of Digital Kate Beale and chatted with adult learners and apprentices studying digital skills during her tour of the centre.

Rob went along as part of discussions around proposed Bootcamps specifically supporting adult learners interested in moving into the digital marketing sector. Optix is involved as a potential partner within current funding bids.

These Bootcamps are aimed at adults who:

• Have been made redundant

• May be facing redundancy

• Are considering career switching

The 12-week digital marketing courses are entry level, allowing learners to ascertain if this is the right direction for them, giving them the necessary basic skills to pursue opportunities in the sector. The link up with Optix gives these Bootcamps an industry relevance giving learners a realistic prospect of future employment.

Rob has already worked alongside the college for previous digital Bootcamps, delivering a talk to recent Bootcamp graduates on how to access the high paid, high skilled digital workforce.

He says

“The reason I like to be involved with the Bootcamps is to provide current and relevant information on roles available within the marketplace and give tips on how best to approach securing these opportunities. In terms of soft skills, there’s a lot of time given to building confidence, being open about aspirations and how to approach employers in a positive way that has impact, and not just relying on traditional methods like the CV, or cover letter.”

There is currently an industry-wide shortage of candidates for digital marketing roles, an issue that Optix is meeting head-on, not just by involvement in the Bootcamps but through a new service called Your Digital Future, that offers training, candidate assessment and carefully matched job placements. Watch this space!