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iMeta extends West Midlands data boot camp contract

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SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

iMeta Training has secured an extension to its Skills Boot Camp contract with the West Midlands Combined Authority for a data-focused programme for learners in the region.

The 11-week part-time Digital Business Services course leads to the CompTIA Data+ certification and covers data collection, analysis, visualisation and governance. The latest cohort opened with 35 fully funded places for eligible learners.

The extension comes as demand for data skills rises among employers and people seeking a route into digital work. Interest in the subject has increased in recent months as businesses look more closely at how data and artificial intelligence are used in day-to-day operations.

The West Midlands Combined Authority funds the programme as part of a wider effort to address digital skills shortages across the region. Regional leaders have also set out ambitions to make the West Midlands a leading location for AI skills training in the UK.

The course is aimed at a broad group, including career changers, people returning to work and business professionals who want to make more data-led decisions. It covers the full data lifecycle, from preparation and analysis to governance and ethical handling.

Artificial intelligence is also built into the course structure, with AI learning modules embedded across all iMeta programmes. This makes data training part of a wider shift in what employers expect from digital recruits.

Mohammed Zur, Founder and Chief Executive of iMeta Training, said: “We are seeing strong demand for data skills from both learners and employers across the West Midlands. “Employers including some of the world’s leading technology companies are recognising data analytics as a core business skill, and jobs in this field continue to grow. “Through our partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority, iMeta is taking the initiative to ensure people in this region are equipped to fill those roles.”

Zur linked that demand to a broader change in hiring, comparing the current rise in interest in data qualifications to the surge in Microsoft certifications around the turn of the millennium, when digital credentials became an increasingly important part of career progression.

Jobs pipeline

Training providers and local authorities have come under pressure to show that short digital courses lead to measurable job outcomes. Against that backdrop, iMeta pointed to employment and progression figures from its wider programme base.

Across its courses, eight out of ten learners go on to secure a new job in their chosen field, gain a promotion or progress into further education, according to iMeta. Among Boot Camp participants, half have moved directly into work or secured a promotion.

Former learners have progressed into roles at organisations including Mercedes-Benz, Network Rail, Capgemini and the UK Civil Service. Dedicated progression and employer engagement teams also support learners with CV writing, interview preparation and links to job opportunities.

The contract extension underlines the continued role of local public funding in digital retraining, particularly for adults seeking to move into growth sectors without taking on the cost of full-time study. Skills Boot Camps have become one of the main ways regional authorities can respond more quickly to changes in labour demand.

That is especially relevant in data and AI-related roles, where employers increasingly want workers who can understand datasets, use analytical tools and handle information responsibly. For smaller businesses as well as large employers, those skills are no longer confined to specialist technology teams.

Founded in the West Midlands in 2018, iMeta focuses on digital training in areas including AI, project management, data, IT and cyber security. Its work with combined authorities, employers and community partners reflects a wider push to align short-form training with vacancies that can be filled locally.



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UK bike manufacturer on brink of £30m collapse after 139 years

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The company behind bikemaker Raleigh, which was founded 139 years ago and has supplied bikes to the UK’s cycling city of Oxford over the years, has filed to appoint administrators.

Accell UK and Ireland, part of Netherlands-based Accell Group, filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as the wider group kickstarted insolvency proceedings.

This follows a difficult spell for Nottinghamshire-based Raleigh, which confirmed job cuts in 2024 before reporting a £30m loss in financial accounts published the following year.

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The boss of Accell said it was a “deeply sad and frustrating situation” and that it had “tirelessly explored” every option for the future of the cycling business.

The company bought Raleigh in 2012 for around 100 million US dollars (£74 million), adding to its roster of bike brands throughout Europe including Haibike, Winora and Ghost.

Raleigh was founded in Nottingham in 1887 and was well-known for its Chopper model, which featured extended handlebars and is now part of its “retro” range.

It no longer manufactures bikes from Nottingham, and its head office has moved to Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, while the company has shifted to selling electric bikes under Accell’s ownership.

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Accell went through a restructuring in February, securing additional funding from shareholders and lenders and reducing debts.

The group said it had since “explored every possible avenue” for its future, including discussions with potential buyers, but that it had not been possible to find a solution which means the business can continue operating.

It has therefore initiated insolvency proceedings in the Netherlands.

Accell’s chief executive Jonas Nilsson said: “This is a deeply sad and frustrating situation given all the hard work and everything we have achieved, with the support of shareholders and lenders, to restructure Accell’s operations and finances.

“It is an especially difficult moment for our employees, creditors, customers, suppliers, and partners.

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“Every realistic option for the future of the business has been tirelessly explored, and none have resulted in a solution to continue the Group in its current form.

“Our immediate focus is to support an orderly process, provide clarity wherever possible, and work with the relevant court-appointed administrators to preserve viable activities and employment where circumstances allow.”

At its 1970s height, Raleigh employed more than 13,000 people across the UK, with around 8,000 working at its various Triumph Road sites in Nottingham.

The former factory land later became the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus.

Raleigh subsequently moved its headquarters to Church Street in Eastwood, before leaving that site and relocating to Durban House in 2024.





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Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students

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Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.

The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.

To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.

Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.

Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.





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Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years

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The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.

The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.

A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).

“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.


What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?


“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”

The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.

The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.

Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.

An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.


What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?


Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”

It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.

Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”

The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.





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