Digital designers go back to school to promote industry

The British Interactive Media Association is urging digital agencies to sign up for Digital Day, a nationwide initiative which aims to bridge the gap between young people and the digital industry.

Pupils taking part in the 2013 BIMA D-Day

Digital Day (D-Day) will take place on 8 October and will see professionals from digital agencies go back to school to give students an insight into life in the industry. Using special resources they run workshops on digital design, mobile apps, social media and web development.
The ideas developed in the sessions are entered into a nationwide Digital Day competition, with the winning team crowned as Digital Day Grand Prix winners.
BIMA says the event is run in a bid to combat ‘a growing digital skills shortage in the UK’. It cites a report commissioned by O2 last year that estimates that the UK will need 750,000 more digitally-skilled workers in its economy by 2017, to capitalise on an estimated £12 billion opportunity.
Agencies including iCrossing, DigitasLBi, Zone, Freestyle Interactive and e3 are already signed up to take part in this year’s D-Day, but BIMA says it is still looking for more agencies to be matched up with schools, particularly those based in London, the North West and the Midlands.
Agencies and schools who are interested in participating should sign up via the BIMA D-Day website. BIMA will match agencies with schools in the same area and provide resources and guidance.

(Wed, 20 Aug 2014 | By Angus Montgomery)