Whitebox Digital
Using the Digital Economy to help
ESA Claimants
Why the Digital Economy?
Why the Digital Economy?
“Digital technology is the single biggest lever
for productivity and competitiveness across
every sector of the economy, it will underpin
the majority of future job creation in western
economies”
(2010) e-skills Cultural Skill/Strategic Skills
Assessment for the Digital Economy
Why the Digital Economy?
 Digital economy is 4.1% of GDP
 This will rise by 182% by 2016
 Over the next 5 years over half a million new
IT and Telecoms professionals will be needed
Why the Digital Economy?
 Digital economy most socially inclusive of all
sectors providing better equality of opportunity
 Workstations people use can be easily
adapted to meet different ability needs
 Work can be done from home, in offices or a
blend of the two
Barriers holding people back
 James from London with Spina Bifida advised
to set sights low and become a checkout
assistant or cctv operator
 Lee from Glasgow with cerebral palsy advised
to expect a low quality of life and also to set
his sights low with regards employment
Barriers holding people back
 Lack of quality training provision across UK to
train people into digital careers
 Small and medium-sized businesses not
engaged enough in tackling unemployment
Whitebox Digital
A digital business involved in
welfare-to-work
Trainees work in a modern
office environment
Spare desks used for taster
days for prospective trainees
4 Whitebox staff
16 trainees
4 spare seats
Career path 1: Modern business worker /
entrepreneurship
“89% of supervisors
report Microsoft Office
certified workers are
more productive and
require less
supervision”
Career paths:
Business workers
across all sectors of
the economy
Career path 2: Desktop support technician
“Over half a million
new IT and Telecoms
professionals needed
over the next five
years”
Career paths:
- Technical support specialist
- Field service technician
- IT support technician
- IT support administrator
- IT support specialist
Soft skills curriculum
Create projects with
local charities to
develop soft skills:
- Drive / work ethic
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
Belbin reports to
identify and articulate
strengths in teams
Popup Skills Academies
First pilot rollout
Won £1M Future
Jobs Fund contract
to create 233
apprenticeships
Of 233 people…
- 204 aged18-24
- 29 aged 25+
Popped
Whatup
is Web 2.0?
in 7 towns
and cities
Trained
people from
6 months to
19 years
unemployed
WORKING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
Trainees working in modern
office environment
Intensive training delivered by
staff and external trainers
Worcester trainees fundraising
for charity working with children
with learning difficulties
Trainees run projects from
conception to completion
Of 233 trainees…
- 229 people graduated programme (98%)
- 8 moved into full-time education (3%)
- 124 moved into employment (54%)
Before programme
After programme
Fiona, 19
years
unemployed
Employed
Charity
Administrator
Francis, exoffender with
drug issues
Employed
IT
Technician
James on
disability
benefits
Employed
IT
Technician
Thank you
David Barker - Whitebox Digital
david.barker@whiteboxdigital.com
www.twitter.com/d_barker