Articles and whitepapers

Training: Encouraging the Xbox Generation to Capitalise on Its Skills (2/8/2010)

By Martin West, Broadband Security Centre (BBSC)

Broadband technology is the gateway to a future where home and business devices, such as security and safety systems, computers, phones, TVs, entertainment centres and even Xboxes, all communicate through wireless networks.

Whether businesses operating in the home technologies marketplace can capitalise on the opportunities created by the broadband revolution depends largely on whether they can supplement their traditional core skills with the ability to configure networks that integrate a broad range of devices. That may well be problematical as the demand for specialist technicians, with network configuration and product installation skills, is already outstripping supply and is certain to continue growing apace.

We first encountered the skill gap that yawns between products and networks when we started handling some of the world's most advanced home security and safety systems. Not only did we experience immediate issues in recruiting technicians with the essential combination of product installation and networking skills, we were unable to identify any formal training we could tap into in order to upskill our own staff. Most worrying, we could find no apparent indication that the training industry was aware of the situation and taking action to meet future needs.

Consequently, we decided to develop our own solution, both to meet our own skills needs and to provide an added value service to the installers we supply and support.

The BBSC training demonstration lounge.

Strategic business development programme

As a key element of our strategic business development programme, over the past three years we have:

* Upgraded our existing training facility so that it serves both as an in-house resource and as a highly-specialised commercial training centre.
* Worked with City & Guilds to develop and accredit Digital Home Technology Integrator (DHTI) courses.
* Developed a suite of short (one- or three-day) 'upskilling' courses centred on City & Guilds technology courses to prepare technicians for the digital switchover.
* Most recently, worked with City & Guilds to lower the age to qualify in DHTI Level 2 networking from 16 to 14 years and also launched a Level 1 City & Guilds course as a practical and accessible introduction to the integration of home technologies.

City & Guilds accredited training

As a result of this on-going investment, BBSC has become a City & Guilds accredited training centre at which students can combine the new City & Guilds Digital Home Technology Integrator (DHTI) 7575 course (which provides them with a practical test of their ability to network with high-end, industry-specification equipment), with the DHTI Customer Service provision, which focuses on how technicians support the latest digital technology. Students who successfully complete these two qualifications achieve the full City & Guilds Level 2 DHTI.

The BBSC digital workshop.

The need for industry-standard facilities

This is, of course, highly-specialist training, which requires equipment and workshops that are difficult for schools and colleges to replicate in an IT classroom. The majority of the DHTI is tested using a practical installation exam which means schools and colleges also need strong business partners to deliver it. The solution could be for education to outsource to specialist industry satellite training centres, where they could use their own teachers but have access to industry-standard facilities.

An industry-standard IT classroom.

Developing skills

Our latest innovation has been to seek to encourage schools to capitalise on the intuitive skills of the Xbox generation by launching a Level 1 City & Guilds Introduction to Networking course that qualifies as Additional Specialist Learning for 14-16 year olds. Designed so that it can be delivered by schools without requiring major investment in equipment and facilities, it also provides opportunities for firms operating in the home technology marketplace to add value as business partners.

Making learning fun - a professional panel to call emergency services.

As part of our campaign to bridge the gap in digital home training integration, we have developed a range of starter packs that contain all the equipment that schools or satellite-training centres require to run the Level 1 course. We also customise courses to 'train the trainers'.

Classroom delivery.

Career progression

One of the key characteristics of digital networking training is that it will support career progression in a wide range of disciplines, from security systems installers to electrical and electronic engineers, lighting technicians, computer service technicians, TV and telephone engineers etc. This suggests that the home technology sector will be competing for a limited supply of suitably trained and qualified technicians for some time to come.

Technician in training.

Conclusion

By proactively seeking to support schools and colleges nationally in delivering home networking training to young people, businesses that design, supply and install home devices will not only be playing a part in developing their own future workforces, they will be building links with future customers and presenting a positive image to current customers.

Whether this involvement involves establishing an in-house training centre that meets the standards required of a 'satellite' facility for colleges, or operating as the business partner, the starting point, of course, is an assessment of their own training needs in a rapidly changing marketplace!

Martin West is the Business Strategist for Broadband Security Centre (BBSC), a UK leader in monitored security and home networking. BBSC supplies hardware, technical support and training to installers and monitoring/server-hosting for international OEMs.

www.bbscentre.com