CompTIA EMEA 2022: Top 6 Talking Points
Cybersecurity, employment challenges, mental health – what was on the agenda at the London event?
One theme that resonated at the event was mental health. This was particularly when it comes to diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging. The conversation, said MJ Shoer, CompTIA’s chief community officer, was around doing more to talk about the issues and embed the conversations and activities.
“Rather than treat these areas as needing to be called out, we need to embed them, normalise the discussion, and offer safe spaces for anyone to talk about anything that is important to them and their career. This is certainly something we will pursue enthusiastically,” he said.
Cybersecurity was, unsurprisingly, an important topic.
Shoer said CompTIA would be looking at several ideas that were shared this week to help members make the most of benefits. These include the CompTIA ISAO, which “stands to make a significant improvement in the overall cyber resilience of MSPs, vendors, distributors and the end customers we all serve.”
Cybersecurity is also a concern considering “an attack on one MSP is truly an attack on all.”
Said Shoer: “CompTIA is putting more resources into this challenge than ever before, and we will be making some significant announcements about new cybersecurity resources for members before the end of the year.”
Also, getting end customers to take cybersecurity seriously is a major issue.
“Far too many businesses think these challenges won’t come to their doorstep,” said Shoer. “However, for most they have not only already come, but they’ve also entered the business and they have no idea. That’s why CompTIA is working diligently to help MSPs address this pressing concern.”
CEO Todd Thibodeaux spoke about CompTIA’s new initiative, dubbed Project Agora. It aims to be “the most respected place to learn about, train, certify and grow tech careers and organization.”
Shoer talked of the need to educate those looking for new career options about the amazing opportunities available in tech.
“[The goal is] to help them get the education and training they need to enter the space and have a well-paying and rewarding career … without having to invest the time and money in traditional multiyear education programs.”
Also launched was the UK Legal Playbook to support CompTIA’s growing membership of U.K. MSPs.
Developed by CompTIA Education, it is designed to help tech companies navigate the “complicated and expensive process” of managing their legal affairs. It includes advice on setting up a business, contracts, employing staff, intellectual property, marketing and data protection.
“This playbook will be an essential resource for our members as they continue to grow and expand their technology businesses in the U.K,” said Shoer.
Its publication follows the release of the Marketing Toolkit for MSPs and the Legal Resources for Tech SMBs in the U.S.
“The goal of Project Agora is to create the most respected place to start, build and supercharge your tech career,” said CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux. “With amazing resources and broad support from our members, partners and industry, Project Agora will help people find success in the tech workforce.”
Recent research from the Learning and Work Institute found that 34% of adults are seeking to change jobs or pursue other career options within the next two years.
“Our challenge is to convert more career-intent people to tech intent,” said Thibodeaux. “We need to tell better stories, more consistently, about how truly great it is to work in tech. The way we get the talent we need is by fighting for it.”
Project Agora will first enable individuals to explore tech jobs and careers. It also creates resources to engage users and convert them from career intent to tech intent.
As such, CompTIA issued a call to action for the industry. It wants it to get involved to build “the best, most comprehensive collection of tech career resources available anywhere.”
Finally, one for the Brits. A new report on the U.K. tech industry from CompTIA revealed Bristol as the best place to be for those working in the sector.
A robust technology community, on pace to add more than 500 net new jobs next year, and an affordable cost of living, propelled Bristol to the top of the 2022 UK Tech Town Index.
Rounding out the top five cities are Manchester, Cambridge, Birmingham, and Nottingham. While dropping to No. 6 this year, London is still home to more tech-related jobs than all other top cities in the report.
This year’s report also revealed that remote tech jobs continue to play a major role in the industry. There were more than 121,800 job postings for remote, or partially remote, tech positions in the UK during the second quarter of 2022. This is up more than 34% compared to the same three months last year. As it stands, around one in three tech jobs (more than 444,600) were advertised as remote, or partially remote, during the last 12 months.
Finally, one for the Brits. A new report on the U.K. tech industry from CompTIA revealed Bristol as the best place to be for those working in the sector.
A robust technology community, on pace to add more than 500 net new jobs next year, and an affordable cost of living, propelled Bristol to the top of the 2022 UK Tech Town Index.
Rounding out the top five cities are Manchester, Cambridge, Birmingham, and Nottingham. While dropping to No. 6 this year, London is still home to more tech-related jobs than all other top cities in the report.
This year’s report also revealed that remote tech jobs continue to play a major role in the industry. There were more than 121,800 job postings for remote, or partially remote, tech positions in the UK during the second quarter of 2022. This is up more than 34% compared to the same three months last year. As it stands, around one in three tech jobs (more than 444,600) were advertised as remote, or partially remote, during the last 12 months.
This week, London hosted the 2022 CompTIA EMEA Member and Partner Conference.
The event provided attendees with an opportunity to gain insights, knowledge and best practices. MJ Shoer, CompTIA’s chief community officer, said it was “humbling and exciting” to hear stories of how CompTIA was helping people.
CompTIA’s MJ Shoer
“We are fulfilling our mission to unlock individual and organizational potential in the tech industry, with plenty of opportunity to do more and better,” he said.
There were obvious concerns about war, inflation, and energy issues stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And finding quality candidates also remains a top concern for MSPs and channel partners alike.
“Many of the themes … at the event tie in to helping to address the global workforce issues we all face. The war and the resulting food and energy issues, along with global inflation, are real concerns, but not ones we cannot successfully navigate,” said Shoer.
“While everyone recognises these challenges, there is universal agreement not to let them alter our focus on all the good this industry does,” said Shoer.
There were launches too, including the UK Legal Playbook, to help MSPs manage the legal aspects of running their business. CompTIA also revealed the IT trade association’s new initiative, Project Agora, to encourage careers in tech.
See our slideshow above to discover what had everyone talking at the CompTIA EMEA event.
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