Infosys has entered into a partnership together with the Brent Council in the UK to enable access to digital education to all the Brent residents and increase employability through its digital educational and training program — Infosys Springboard.

According to Infosys, the number of unemployed people in Brent aged between 18 and 49, during the pandemic, had trebled. Currently, one in five people in the borough don’t have the “essential digital skills” that will benefit them later in their lives.

Brent Council’s aim is to enhance the prospects of people who are low-paid by boosting adult education and skills, as well as providing economic opportunities that will lead to sustainable job opportunities.

Cllr Muhammed Butt — Leader of Brent Council said: “Having digital skills opens up a world of opportunities. Lockdown nudged more businesses to look towards new technologies, accelerating the shift online, and job adverts are increasingly looking for people with skills that match.

“Today one in five adults in Brent don’t possess essential digital skills and many more would benefit from training to access the jobs of the future – that’s the problem Infosys Springboard is trying to address. Our borough is awash with opportunities and, as a council, we want to help local people develop the skills and the confidence they need to get out there and snap them up.”

To assist Brent Council deliver on its goals, Infosys will support residents to develop new skills that will improve their employability and get back into the job market.

Infosys’ platform for digital learning is said to give access to digital training as well as core subject learning. It also helps users in tracking the progress they make and navigate various courses.

Infosys Springboard was designed to assist in the reskilling and upskilling process for the UK workforce. The cloud-based and mobile-based solution is built to be available anytime, anywhere, and on any device in order to make sure that there is equitable access for all residents.

Infosys Springboard is offering more than 220 courses on technology, emerging job roles, and professional and behavioral skills. From modules on drafting efficient emails to cyber-security and programming, the courses are designed to aid users to build their digital skill set and increase their appeal to employers.

Brent Council is among the first to join the Infosys Springboard program, which is also said to build digitally engaged communities through the provision of devices as well as basic IT education.

Through this initiative, Infosys is said to have donated laptops to the Brent Council to help children and vulnerable residents without access to devices.

The program also helps entrepreneurs to create digitally enabled businesses by providing mentoring and technical assistance.

Mohit Joshi — President of Infosys said: “Supporting local communities such as Brent to secure sustainable employment starts with equipping residents for the demands of a new and evolving workplace. Ensuring equitable access to digital education is fundamental to achieving this, and to supporting the UK navigate economic recovery with a focus on digital inclusion.

“The Springboard digital platform will play a key role in not only helping to build a better Brent, but also a robust UK workforce.”

  Brent Council, Infosys, Infosys Springboard, Mohit Joshi, Muhammed Butt, United Kingdom