Amid an ageing workforce—60% of the engineers in the UK are over the age of 50—gaps in telecoms training and an eroding talent pipeline, increasing demand for fibre and 5G has exposed significant skills gaps across the country.
According to a recent report by Eightfold AI, 33% of those in the leading network engineering and operation positions are not currently equipped to adapt to emerging telecoms trends, particularly 5G and Open RAN. The talent in the UK is also not equally distributed: there is currently an over-reliance on London and the South East, which is throttling our ability to capitalise on opportunities.
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“Our UKTIN Talent Advisory Group brings together key figures from across the UK to raise awareness of the skills, talent and entrepreneurship opportunities and challenges the sector faces, facilitate collective problem solving and act as a guiding mind for the industry, for the benefit of all.”
LESLEY HOLT
UKTIN Lead for UKTIN Talent
Our Focus Areas:
- Understanding the challenges, existing and emerging skills gaps
- Supporting educational attainment that addresses skills gaps
- Defining and promoting career pathways
- Creating employment and training opportunities
- Raising the profile of the telecoms sector
- Diversity and inclusion
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