Telecoms employers urged to join the conversation to help uncover digital skills shortages

Press release issued: 17 May 2022

Bristol Digital Futures Institute at the University of Bristol is teaming up with TM Forum to uncover why there are entry-level digital skills shortages in the telecoms industry.

Researchers want to hear from employers in the telecoms industry who are actively recruiting graduates with digital skills to join the conversation.

The new project, ‘Attracting Digital Talent’ will seek to understand the specific skills needs of employers and go on to survey up to 1,000 students likely to possess those skills from around the globe.

TM Forum, an alliance of more than 850 global telecoms companies, is working with Bristol Digital Futures Institute (BDFI) to help understand why graduates with digital skills are not entering the telecoms industry in sufficient number. The results are expected to help inform employer recruitment strategies, including the possible design of a new graduate programme.

Employers now can sign up to sessions with researchers starting this month.

BDFI lead researcher Dr Ruzanna Chitchyan said:

“We know that the current telecoms workforce is aging, the blend of skills required is changing and that recruiting graduates who have digital skills is a persistent challenge across the industry. This project will help uncover the nature of the barriers facing both companies and graduates to help the industry address recruitment and retention strategies.”

Vicky Sleight, VP for Human Factor at TM Forum added:

“Digital skills are highly sought after in our sector, and there is a globally-recognised need to diversify our graduate intake. We would like to talk to telecoms organisations around the world to understand the challenges they are facing, in order that we can orchestrate an effective industry response. We are committed to sharing the results of this first survey back to any employers who participate in the project.”

The project is expected to finish in July and results will be shared later this year.

To find out more, email bdfi-partnerships@bristol.ac.uk

Further information

Bristol Digital Futures Institute was launched in 2019 to transform the way digital technology is created for a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable society. The £100m Institute is pioneering a different approach to digital technology innovation, bringing together social and technological expertise from across the University of Bristol and partners in academia, industry, government and local communities. It will open this year to be the first research hub to open on the University’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.

Find us at bristol.ac.uk/bdfi or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

TM Forum is an association of over 850 member companies, which include 10 of the world’s top 10 network and communications providers and stretch across 180 countries. Our members tap into each other’s collective experiences and abilities to collaboratively solve complex industry-wide challenges, deploy new services, and create technology breakthroughs to accelerate change.

We help communications service providers (CSPs) and their suppliers to digitally transform and thrive in the digital era. We do this by providing an open, collaborative environment and practical support which enables CSPs and suppliers to rapidly transform their business operations, IT systems and ecosystems to capitalize on the opportunities presented in a rapidly evolving digital world. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.