CompTIA aims to arm military with IT career

Trade body aims to address IT skills gap and help ex-armed forces staff into work

CompTIA has launched a new scheme aimed at skilling up ex-armed forces personnel in order to get them into work at the same time as bridging the IT skills gap.

The industry body's Armed for IT Careers campaign goes live today, and provides those leaving the forces with a one-stop shop website providing information on how to get a career in IT. The site provides information about how to get trained up, secure funding and land a first job in the sector.

CompTIA claims that since the 2010 government spending review, surging numbers of returning armed forces members have been left looking for work.

It also pointed to eSkills research which suggests some 129,000 new staff members are needed in the IT and telecoms sector every year in the UK, and said that the two problems could be solved by addressing them together.

"Military professionals often have strong business, communication and technical skills and a good work ethic, which are all much in demand in the IT industry," said Graham Hunter, western Europe director at CompTIA. "There are a wide range of jobs for which someone with military training and leadership skills would be a perfect fit.

"We believe the problem has been that, until now, there has been nothing which clearly outlines the opportunities, then helps them train and certify the technical skills they need to make the transition.

"We believe this is a real missed opportunity... for the IT industry."