BRAIN DRAIN
Britain faces £33BILLION yearly losses by 2030 unless it delivers 21,000 computer science graduates each year
AMAZON has launched a new programme to help young people build careers in computer science.
The "Amazon Future Engineer" scheme includes free robotics workshops for 10,000 primary school children and a free online coding lesson.
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Amazon said it's also pledged support for over 200 careers specialists and 50 computer science teachers by 2021.
The news comes in the wake of shocking research that Britain faces losing up to £33billion by 2030 if it doesn't train up more computer scientists.
The UK needs an extra 38,000 workers with computer science-related skills to meet labour demands of the future, according to research by Capital Economics.
Amazon said it's launching its project to help close that gap.
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"Research shows the UK needs 21,000 more computer science graduates on average, every year, to meet the demands of the digital economy," said Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager at Amazon.
"By making computer science skills more widely accessible from childhood to career, we hope Amazon Future Engineer will inspire and empower young people, regardless of their background, to take up careers in computer science."
The childhood-to-career programme aims to reach more than one million children and young people across Britain over the next two years.
Around 10,000 primary school kids will be given free robotics workshops in Amazon's UK fulfilment centres.
Amazon is also working with the education charity Teach First to support the recruitment and training of 50 secondary school computer science teachers.
Computer science teachers will be placed in schools serving low-income communities from next year and will have the opportunity to embark on paid work experience at Amazon.
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Amazon will also support with the training of over 200 Teach First "Careers Leaders", a programme run by the charity which supports leaders in schools to improve careers opportunities for students.
Additionally, for students wishing to pursue computer sciences in higher education, Amazon is funding 120 apprenticeships in software development engineering, automation and advanced mechatronics.
Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, Secretary of State for Education, said: "Today’s school pupils will go on to do jobs that don’t even exist yet because the world of technology and computing is progressing so quickly.
"This is why we’re making sure our schools and teachers equip young people with the skills and knowledge they’ll need to be successful in the future by expanding our IoT programme and investing an extra £14billion in schools over the next three years.
"The work of Amazon Future Engineer will support us in just that by harnessing Amazon’s reach and know-how to make sure that pupils from all backgrounds can access a cutting edge education and I look forward to seeing it in action."
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