ADEPT launches fully funded digital and data skills training academy

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) has launched a training programme to boost digital and data skills in local authority teams. 

The Digital Academy is fully funded through the apprenticeship levy and will run as a year-long pilot starting in the autumn.

The ADEPT course will deliver hands-on training, expert coaching and community learning, specifically for place directors’ teams, delivered by Multiverse in partnership with Colas.

Angela Jones, president of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport, said: “ADEPT has developed this new, unique programme that will provide place directors’ teams with the capabilities to lead change, use data more effectively and deliver better outcomes for people and places.

“The programme reflects the government’s commitment to building digital capability across the public sector, as outlined in the recent Spending Review.

“The ADEPT Digital Academy will play a crucial role in ensuring local authorities have the skilled workforce needed to deliver on the digital transformation agenda.”

Jones added: “I would like to encourage local authorities to consider how this fully funded opportunity could strengthen their teams’ capabilities and better serve their communities in our increasingly digital world.”

Claire Davenport, chief operating officer at Multiverse, said: “There’s a huge opportunity in the public sector to embrace digital technologies to improve services and increase efficiency. 

“Our work with more than 50 local authorities has proven that there is substantial ambition and appetite among council workers for digital, data and AI upskilling.

“We’re looking forward to working with ADEPT to translate the benefits of new technologies into impact across critical Place services, from local highways to recycling.”

David Ogden, executive director at Colas, said: “Having worked with Multiverse at Colas, we know from experience the huge benefits this programme will bring to develop the data and digital skills of the people and teams who are delivering for their local communities on a daily basis and are delighted to be supporting this new programme from ADEPT.”