RSM UK warns travel businesses may be caught out by proposed online sales tax

Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK has launched a firm-wide extensive digital upskilling programme, a key part of which includes an MSc in data analytics. The fully accredited degree, in partnership with BPP University, will form part of a substantial investment in data analytics skills as RSM seeks to embed digital service delivery for its clients. 

The firm will welcome its first cohort onto the MSc in January 2022. The MSc will cover programming and modelling for data analysis as well as emerging technology and automation. It is the latest example of the range of initiatives RSM is deploying to upskill its people as working practices continue to digitalise, accelerated by the effects of the pandemic, ensuring they have the skills needed both now and in the future.

The firm-wide investment includes the rollout of advanced data analytics platforms through a partnership with the analytics automation company, Alteryx. It also includes an interactive dashboard for clients and offer of the MSc in data analytics to staff and partners across the firm. The fully accredited degree will provide staff and partners the opportunity to progress through advanced data science concepts to deepen the analytics services available to RSM clients. 

Chris Knowles, Chief Digital Officer, RSM UK said: ‘We want to give everyone at RSM the opportunity to build their data analytics and digital skills, enabling them to excel in their careers and deliver the best possible digital services to our clients. Demand for digital skills has never been greater, and being able to story-tell with data is the absolute foundation of all other digital skills investments we are making. We need to empower our workforce to respond to the rapidly changing needs of our clients and the digital workplace.’ 

Lynn Radose, Head of Learning at RSM UK said: ‘A key part of our people strategy is to grow our own talent, and developing excellent digital capabilities is a huge part of this. This is an ongoing and sustained effort to build the high calibre digital skills we need now and for the long term. We want all our people to gain the skills they need to thrive as an active part of the digital economy.’

The new skills programme builds on a range of wider initiatives at RSM including the already successful Industry Eminence Programme (IEP). This three-year programme is designed to develop senior industry analysts who can understand, interpret and forecast data and communicate business, economic and technology trends that shape the industries that RSM serves. Created for experienced managers and partners, the IEP is an intensive immersion into data and trend analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Senior analysts will leave the programme with the skills to analyse and interpret economic industry trends and data and act as experts for clients.