David Cameron announces creation of London’s first digital skills hub in 2015
David Cameron has announced the creation of the UK's first digital skills hub, as part of a government drive to boost the take-up of maths, science and technology subjects.
The National College for Digital Skills, opening in London next year, will equip students with the technological skills needed to "compete in the global economy".
It aims to teach 5,000 students from London within the next five years. They will have the chance to work on a number of qualifications and vocational courses.
The college, which could later be rolled out to other parts of the country, will work with big City names such as Bank of America, Deloitte, Henderson Global Investors and IBM.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
There's no secret to success in the modern world.
If countries are going to win in the global race and children compete and get the best jobs, you need mathematicians and scientists – pure and simple. So today, we commit to deliver more maths and science teachers.
This is all part of our long-term economic plan for Britain – making sure our children have the skills they need to thrive and get on. And by sticking to it, we will lift our children horizons and pull our country up in the world.
Cameron also announced funding to retrain 15,000 existing teachers and recruit up to 1,500 new teachers, as part of a £67m scheme, in a speech at Downing Street this morning.
Boosting the take-up of science, maths and technology skills is essential if the UK wants to win in an increasingly competitive global economy, Cameron argued.
This is all part of the government's push for the prioritisation of maths and science subjects in UK schools.