Digital Skills Solutions and Collab Group partners with HACT to deliver digital apprenticeships

Digital Skills Solutions (DSS) and Collab Group are delighted to announce a partnership with the Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (HACT) to provide apprenticeship and training services to housing associations. HACT works with the housing sector to deliver innovative projects and solutions across several specialist areas.

In this partnership, parties will collaborate to provide digital apprenticeships to local housing associations. The aim will be to increase the capabilities of housing associations to engage with their customers and analyse evidence to inform better decision making. Apprentices will be recruited for two pathways: L3 Digital Marketing and L4 Data Analysis.   

The first stage of the partnership will be focussed on London, with the intention to expand opportunities to Housing Associations across the UK.

This partnership will allow housing associations to benefit from the enthusiasm and expertise of apprentices by increasing engagement and amplifying tenant voice. The announcement of this partnership comes at a great time as we prepare for national apprenticeship week from the 4th—8th March. All parties look forward to working to highlight the fantastic contribution that apprentices make to employers in meeting their business needs.

We are delighted to work together and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

Carlos Cubillo-Barsi, Managing Director at Digital Skills Solutions said: “This is an exciting opportunity to use apprenticeship training as an integral part of HACT’s digital transformation programme.  The anticipated business and social benefits of the training have been very clearly articulated and we look forward to working in partnership with HACT and Collab Group to ensure that they are realised.”

Ian Pretty – Collab Group’s CEO said: “Our new partnership with HACT and DSS is a great opportunity for apprentices to gain experience in the housing sector and strengthen their digital talent pool. We know how important apprentices are to our economy and wider society and we are excited to join this partnership which will create new opportunities for apprentices, providers and employers.”

Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive at HACT, said: “The social housing sector wants to deliver on digital, but many housing associations can’t because they don’t have the in-house skills. Our digital apprenticeship scheme has been designed specifically for housing associations. It will help them to develop the in-house skills to engage with their customers through digital channels, provide them with the analytical expertise needed to make the best use of big data and, ultimately, enable them to deliver on their digital objectives.”

About Collab Group: A forward-thinking membership organisation which represents leading UK Colleges and College Groups. Collab Group colleges, in collaboration with others, are transforming the UK economy through the delivery of high-quality technical and professional education.

About HACT: An innovation agency that provides future-oriented solutions, projects and products for UK housing. They work in five specialist areas (Value, Insight, Health, Local and digital) to collaboratively solve problems and find solutions.