Pooling together their resources, the Tech Partnership, the network of employers collaborating to create the skills for the digital economy, and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, will bring their professional development tools together. The move means that tech professionals now have a single, unified, and employer-endorsed way to manage, record and share their skills development, assessed against the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA).

Tool a bonus for self-employed individuals

The new tool ensures individuals can identify and review their CPD needs and activities, identifying new and existing skills against the detailed SFIA framework. It’s suitable for use on any internet-enabled device, encouraging individuals to record their activities when it suits them. It is also totally portable, allowing IT professionals to take their evidence with them should they move between employers – a particular bonus for those who are self-employed.
Features include the ability to:
• Record all CPD activity, including coaching, mentoring, networking, learning and research.
• Create and maintain up to date IT skills profiles, including those already achieved and targets for future learning.
• Share profiles with employers, colleagues or recruiters.
• See progression against targets, and compare skills against other profiles.
Free to use, with additional features for BCS members
Any IT professional from any discipline can use the free tool, with additional features for those who are BCS members. It is accessed from the BCS site.

Improving digital skills in the UK

“As part of our work with the Tech Partnership we are concentrating on how we can support individuals as well as employers in improving digital skills in the UK. It’s vital we do this if the UK is going to meet the skills requirement of the future,” Paul Fletcher, Group CEO, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, explained.
“One aspect of this work is to encourage and support individuals to manage their personal development. This is about ensuring that individuals develop the skills they need for their current role as well as their future objectives, so it’s great that we’ve been able to combine our two systems. The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) is a recognised benchmark against which IT professionals can assess their skills.” Fletcher added.

Additional commentary from the Tech Partnership

Phil Smith, CEO UK and Ireland, Cisco and Chair of the Tech Partnership, noted: “The Tech Partnership and BCS are both dedicated to supporting individuals in building their tech skills, so that they can play a full part in the digital economy and support the UK’s digital growth. This integrated tool will help organisations manage their skills base, and tech professionals to build successful and rewarding careers.”
“Managing your continuing professional development and your career progression is very important,” says Karen Price, Director of the Tech Partnership. Their skills against a globally-relevant framework of skills standards will not only help individuals to fulfil their potential, but also employers to manage skills effectively.”
This releases marks the first of a series of new professional development tools released by BCS and the Tech Partnership. Later in the autumn of 2015, a new tool to support smaller organisations manage their IT talent will be fully launched, along with an update to the existing BCS RoleModel talent management tool for larger organisations.