Raytheon Professional Services, a Raytheon Technologies subsidiary (NYSE: RTX), was awarded £250,000 by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership to launch a Fast Track Cyber Training programme in the UK as part of a wider Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund.
The Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund is a £3 million joint venture between GMCA, DCMS and LDSP and is the first of its kind in the UK, providing both Greater Manchester and Lancashire residents with access to better quality digital employment.
“Greater Manchester is fast becoming a digital hub, which has, in turn, created a growing demand for specialist digital roles to help support the local economy” said Mark Oliver, Raytheon Professional Services, managing director for Europe the Middle East and Africa. “The Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund will enable us to deliver successful blended cyber and software training solutions to support a route into a career in cybersecurity and software development.”
The grant given to RPS will provide both full-time and part-time training programmes for a consortium of employers, which recruit, train and develop individuals who want to pursue a career in cyber security. Consortium members include Raytheon UK, Morson Group, Salford City Council and The Landing, based in MediaCityUK, Salford, Greater Manchester. Other companies that have also committed themselves to the project include Bridge IT, Sodexo, BUPA and TalkTalk.
“This will create digital opportunities for a range of groups that may not currently have access to them, including Black and Minority Ethnic communities, unemployed or underemployed individuals, women and ex-armed forces personnel,” Oliver said.
The announcement of the award coincides with the news that Raytheon UK has become a supporter of the Salford City Mayor’s Charter for Employment Standards. The Charter highlights Raytheon UK’s commitment to investing in the local Salford workforce and providing training and employment opportunities for Salford people, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.
As part of their involvement with the charter, Raytheon UK will also help to raise employment standards for employees and businesses across Salford, working with employers, trade unions and campaign groups to promote the adoption of the best possible working practices, policies and conditions.
Commenting on the announcement, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Salford is establishing itself as a leading city for digital enterprise – — digital skills are critical to this success and will create new opportunities for residents and communities. Raytheon UK is a supporter of the Charter for Employment Standards. This support combined with the announcement of the Fast Track Cyber Training programme show how businesses in Salford are working towards creating accessible routes into better quality digital employment for Salford residents.”
