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In response to a perceived skills shortage in the channel, Networking specialist Cisco has expanded its Networking Academy Programme to include prison inmates, who it will then help find employment upon release.
The programme, which teaches data and cabling network installation, opened in HMP Wandsworth last week. Cisco estimates that the UK is lacking 61,000 workers qualified with these kinds of skills.
“The Academy is now a full end-to-end service and helps place inmates in employment when they are released from prison,” said Scot Gardner, director of public sector for Cisco UK and Ireland. “Many have been employed by Cisco’s partners. Some partners are struggling to find skilled staff – this programme helps the offender not to re-offend and helps our partners to find the staff that they need.”
Link: CRN
