First look at new 'Digital Skills Academy'

Monday 28 January 2019

Plans have gone in for a new town-based 'academy', providing a glimpse at what will be the island's first ever education facility dedicated to developing digital skills.

Digital Jersey have submitted proposals to the Planning Department to turn the ground floor of a building located next to their Hub into a Digital Skills Academy, which will offer university-accredited qualifications and professional training, ranging from degree apprenticeships to short courses.

If the plans are approved, the Academy could open this September at 4 The Forum on Grenville Street, a space previously occupied by finance company JP Morgan.

Pictured: The academy will be based at Digital Jersey's current premises on Grenville Street.

Plans show that the facility is likely to include project and teaching rooms, a staff room, audio booths and an interactive area for lecture and presentations. 

Designed by Axis Mason, the space is meant to be entirely flexible with a number of folding walls to allow teaching to be done in classrooms, as well as larger open plan areas for group working, presentations and tutorials.

The Digital Skills Academy is meant to be an extension of the Digital Jersey Hub located next door and the Internet of Things Lab in St. Brelade.

Pictured: Axis Mason has designed the space to be entirely flexible inside the Academy.

A statement released alongside the plans says the Academy will focus on education for over-18s with project-led qualifications such as degree apprenticeships, sort-courses and modular Continuing Professional Development. 

The Academy will work with a range of professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the British Computer Society to offer accredited courses. 

Digital Jersey first revealed plans for a Digital Skills Academy last April, when it launched its strategy, ideally covering up to 3,000sqm of space; the recently published plans are for 331sqm.

Pictured: Tony Moretta, Digital Jersey CEO, said the DSA was "a testament to the growth of the Island’s digital sector."

Speaking in December, Digital Jersey CEO Tony Moretta said: "The launch of the Digital Skills Academy marks a step-change in our work, and is a testament to the growth of the Island’s digital sector.

"We will be able to offer on-island higher education courses for those leaving school or college, as well as bespoke courses for Islanders looking to upskill in an increasingly digital world.

"I’ve spoken, for months now, about the need for a suitably skilled workforce to meet the evolving requirements of employers. The Digital Skills Academy will work to achieve precisely that."