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The Government has launched an innovative partnership with Cisco Systems to teach convicted criminals the latest IT skills, needed for future UK employment. Inmates at 18 prisons nationwide can choose either basic or intermediate IT while the more ambitious can gain a Cisco-accredited qualification. The deal has been made possible by a £2.6m grant, enabling the government and the US IT firm to pursue a set of objectives under one collaborative project. Cisco said their contribution is partly to help their worldwide customers resolve problems from a shortage of staff and skills in the industry. “In the past, our customers have asked us whether they can borrow our engineers, because of the shortage,” said Jane Lewis, who is fronting the scheme for the systems provider. She told the Independent that her company’s support was also due to the more philanthropic aspect of the scheme, hinting at the government’s attempt to reform criminals in time for public release. Meanwhile, the reported 70,000 unfilled positions in UK IT was cast a motivating factor for both parties. One inmate working under the Prisons Information Computer Technology Academies Scheme (Pictas) said he wanted to become an IT contractor after he qualifies his CCNA. “I'm now considering being self-employed, developing a network of clients,” said trainee, Naveed. “You can earn £75 an hour doing that sort of thing, I'm mapping it all out now,” he said. “Because of the shortage of IT skills, employers don't look at the conviction. There is a fine line between discrimination and being selected for a job on the basis of qualifications." One 24-year-old on the course, who was arrested after a car chase with police, said the daily three-hour seminars in IT were acting as a lifeline. “This place,” he said, referring to the IT room "is the best thing: it offers me a second chance to sort myself out, to make a fresh start." Seminars explain how to build a PC, as well as teaching potential workers about industry terms and individual computer components. One course attendee from a prison in Surrey has recently been promised a work placement at Cisco - if he completes a certain part of his course. Across the applicants, there was a particular interest in computer networking, coinciding with interest from the other end of the market - the clients. John Marsden, director of enterprises at HMP Kirkham, said: "I had a businessman from Burnley in here the other day. He was interested in lads with IT qualifications for the office. He was looking for trained personnel and knows that we train the inmates to a high standard." The initiative intends to help those without formal education or qualifications who have big ambition and want a path to success. One of the already quoted inmates said he wanted to get into IT before his time in jail, but simply didn’t know where to start. Naveed, who once assembled computers, said: “Before I came here, I planned to go to the States and knock on Bill Gates's door. Obviously I can't do that now with the restrictions on travelling there.” It is understood only category C prisoners are allowed to sign up the scheme, meaning it accepts entry from inmates judged untrustworthy but unlikely to escape. Cisco said they are turning to UK prisons to combat an “acute shortage” of professionals skilled in ICT. Nov 22, 2004 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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