Netcom Training Appoints Karen Rodkin as Operations Director Amid Growing Demand for Digital Skills

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 33 seconds

Digital Skills

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Quick Read: Netcom Training boosts its leadership with the appointment of Karen Rodkin as Operations Director, responding to the rising demand for digital skills in the UK job market. Karen, an experienced talent acquisition specialist, will oversee digital program advisory teams and lead Netcom Talent to support learners in their career journey.

Birmingham-based digital skills training provider, Netcom Training, is gearing up for significant expansion with the appointment of Karen Rodkin as Operations Director. The move comes in response to the escalating demand for digital skills across England.

With a distinguished career in talent acquisition, particularly in the tech sector, Karen Rodkin brings valuable expertise to Netcom. Her recent role at Pareto, where she spearheaded a global tech recruitment division, underscores her prowess in navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Photo: Karen Rodkin, Photo Credit: Netcom Training

In her new role, Karen will oversee the Digital Programme Advisor Teams and lead Netcom Talent, a pivotal component in supporting learners through onboarding, learning processes, and preparing them for successful careers. Netcom's strategic move aligns with its commitment to addressing the widening skills gap and positioning the UK as a digital innovation hub.

Karen commented,

"Having started my career in the dot com era, I have seen how much technology has influenced the job market, carving out fantastic career paths for a new generation of digital natives. I am excited to get to work with the team at Netcom as we address the widening skills gap and look to put the UK at the forefront of digital innovation."

Sam Field, Apprentify Group CRO, emphasized Karen's goal-oriented approach and her track record in delivering value. "Karen is a goal-orientated professional with an impressive record in creating strategies that deliver real value, not only to the business but also to everyone who interacts with us. Having worked with her for well over a decade, it is fantastic to work with her again to grow Netcom and achieve our ambitious objectives."

Netcom's recent relocation to Bruntwood's Birmingham Innovation campus serves as a strategic move, providing a hub for staff and learners as the company positions itself for further expansion in 2024. The move signifies Netcom's commitment to nurturing digital talent and meeting the growing needs of the tech sector.

The appointment of Karen Rodkin, coupled with the strategic relocation, underscores Netcom Training's dedication to staying at the forefront of digital skills training and contributing to the digital evolution of the UK job market. The company's proactive approach positions it as a key player in shaping the future of digital education and workforce development.

What's new

Innovation Accelerator Pilot Programme Creates More Than £140m Co-investment With 250 Jobs

A UK government-backed innovation programme has delivered a major boost to regional economies, generating more than £140 million in new investment and creating up to 250 full-time equivalent jobs across the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Glasgow City Region.

Funded by Innovate UK, working with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), early impacts emerging from the Innovation Accelerator pilot programme demonstrate it is already delivering significant economic outcomes.

Launched in April 2022, the pilot programme pioneers a new funding approach, co-created with local leadership to fast-track high-growth industries and harness regional strengths.

Glasgow City Region is demonstrating the power and impact of the triple helix model- combining public sector backing, academic expertise, and private sector investment. This collaborative approach is accelerating innovation to market, creating high-quality local jobs, building sustainable supply chains, and has already leveraged over £47 million in private sector investment.

Greater Manchester is using the Innovation Accelerator to advance its strengths in advanced materials and manufacturing, digital and tech, low carbon and health innovation, while placing a strong emphasis on social inclusion. The Centre for Digital Innovation project has offered skills development and community outreach to all 10 of the city-region’s boroughs through its network of further education colleges, while the Turing Innovation Catalyst is helping people from underrepresented groups develop a career in AI.

Meanwhile, West Midlands is accelerating R&D and innovation strengths in greener technologies and improved personalised and digital healthcare, diversifying its economy while boosting supply chains. Furthermore, indications show by the end of 2025, 161 jobs will have been created in the region through this programme.

With an initial £100 million investment, plus a £30 million extension secured for 2025/26, this pilot is generating regional growth and vibrant innovation ecosystems.

The Innovation Accelerator pilot is also bringing new technology, products and services to market:

In the West Midlands, the

Clean Futures

programme helped to develop a new coating for EV batteries to extend their life, while also supporting startup

Moonbility

, to create an AI ‘digital twin’ platform to help rail operators respond faster to disruptions in a proof-of-concept for London North Eastern Railway.

The Government is building on its success through a Local Innovation Partnerships Fund of up to £500m, which is part of the

wider £86 billion of R&D funding

announced ahead of the Spending Review to turbo-charge the fastest growing sectors, from tech and life sciences, to advanced manufacturing and defence.

The new fund will empower local leaders across the UK to target their research investment in the region, boosting high skilled jobs and igniting growth across the country – the core mission of the government’s Plan for Change.

Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

These findings show the important part that leaders who know their regions best can play in capitalising on local strengths to improve lives and create new jobs, from healthcare to space technology and advanced manufacturing to AI. This government is building on these promising investments into Glasgow, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, with up to £500m of further local partnership funding for regions in every corner of the UK, so that more excellent, local expertise can be channelled into driving economic growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director for Place and Global at Innovate UK, added:

The Innovation Accelerator pilot has proven the power of place-based innovation to unlock economic potential and transform regional R&D ecosystems. By building on the distinct strengths of the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Glasgow City Region, we’ve seen clusters of innovation flourish by attracting significant co-investment, creating new products and services, and delivering hundreds of high-value jobs.
At the heart of our approach lies the principle of co-creation, recognising the wisdom of local people with a deep understanding of local strengths to be built upon. This local knowledge is complemented by Innovate UK’s reach as the national innovation agency, linking these regional clusters with opportunities provided by national and international networks. The Innovation Accelerator pilot has proven to be a strategic commitment to developing thriving innovation clusters that continues to drive long-term prosperity for the UK.

To discover how Innovate UK's Innovation Accelerator pilot is shaping the future of innovation across West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Glasgow City Region, visit the

Innovate UK Business Connect

website.

By Innovate UK

6 Jun