This session will explore the digital industry’s seemingly insatiable appetite for social media skills. Recent research from  Altimeter Group shows corporations increased their spend on social media talent, on average, by 50% to £180,000. But where are the skills coming from? Academia? On-the-job learning? Is social media baked into the DNA of the digital natives? And are they needed for... [read more]

This session will explore the digital industry’s seemingly insatiable appetite for social media skills. Recent research from  Altimeter Group shows corporations increased their spend on social media talent, on average, by 50% to £180,000. But where are the skills coming from? Academia? On-the-job learning? Is social media baked into the DNA of the digital natives? And are they needed for specific social media roles or will the social media purist become a thing of the past?As this area of the industry matures and the requirements for knowledge depends from a general overview to specialist skills in areas from customer care to social CRM to marketing to algorithm-driven insight, how can organisations prepare?This collaborative session aims to share experiences from the panel and with the audience to gauge the current market situation with a facilitated to discussion to explore what the future holds: what companies will need, how candidates can equip themselves and what’s needed from academia.Come along and join in the debate. This session starts with a spot of networking and a buffet lunch, RSVP to reserve your space. Speakers:Rebecca Gloyne, Global Talent Sourcing & Acquisition Manager (Marketing), Nokia (@beckyfolb)http://www.linkedin.com/in/beckygloyneCharlie Elise Duff, Community Manager, Brave New Talent (@charlie_elise)http://uk.linkedin.com/in/charlieduffNiall Cook, Co-Founder, Sociagility (@niallcook)http://www.linkedin.com/in/niallcookChair: Kathryn Corrick, Digital Media Consultant (@kcorrick)http://uk.linkedin.com/in/kcorrick