BBC and partners launch 'Make it Digital' campaign and Micro Bit hardware launch to tackle lack of UK tech talent

Tony Hall, Director General of the BBC, has announced that along with 50 organisations including Microsoft, BT, ARM, Google, Samsung and Tech City, a national IT literacy campaign called "Make it Digital" will be launched to help job creation within the IT industry.

With help from the Micro Bit, a new micro-computer, the scheme is hoping to be a platform to "bring the wonders of technology" to its audience via a series of content and events that are scheduled to run throughout 2015.

Hall said;

"More than anything else, this is about working with others and we know that working with each other we can create something magical."

Hall went on to say that the scheme will include a range of BBC established brands, like Doctor Who, Radio 1, EastEnders, and Children in Need to promote IT skills. He hopes that it will "give up to 5,000 young people a life-changing opportunity" to find employment within the digital economy.

The Micro Bit - a chip about half the size of the Raspberry Pi - will be given out to one million children later this year.

Microsoft is also planning on giving away a million Micro Bits to students.

Michel van der Bel, Microsoft UK MD, said;

"Children can code on the computer, then download it to this device, then show a result out of it.

"It will be a device you can wear, it will say ‘Hey this is me, today I don't want to be bothered', or ‘Life is great' - all kinds of things. It will also play in the social field of sharing things with each other."

What do you think about this scheme – is it going one step too far or taking the next generation to where they need to be when it comes to future IT skills? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook – we would love to hear from you!