The Association for Geographic Information, the membership group for organisations and individuals working in geospatial, has launched a survey to inform an action plan exploring the evolving needs of professionals working within the sector. Led by the Association’s Education and Skills Network, the survey looks to capture feedback on what action areas should form the focus for current and future skills, based on identified gaps and areas for opportunities.
The survey is being launched to members, and the wider community at GEO Business, the UK’s largest geospatial event, where the Network will seek feedback from the sector to guide how the AGI focuses its efforts relating to education and skills over the next 12 months.
“We are committed to developing meaningful change, and that starts by us listening,” commented Patrick Rickles, Director of the Association for Geographic Information and co-lead of the Educations and Skills Network. “We are therefore seeking input from our members, members of other organisations with an interest in geospatial, as well as government, academia and commercial organisations.
“We have already launched a survey to our membership and will open this out to wider audience at GEO Business,” he continued, “We are asking people to complete a short online questionnaire or engage with us on our stand, to let us know what’s important to them now, in terms of education and skills focus, and what they think might shape the future emphasis.”
The survey, available online, hopes to gauge opinion on which topics and opportunities are important to the geospatial sector. Options include, but are not limited to, Cloud-Based GIS and Big Data, Remote Sensing and Earth Observation, Geospatial AI, together with Ethical and Legal Aspects of Geospatial Data, Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Communication and Geospatial Leadership and Strategic Thinking.
Featuring more than 130 exhibitors and attracting over 4,300 visitors, GEO Business takes place on the 4-5 June 2025 at ExCel London. GEO Business is a free to attend event and registration is open online. The AGI Education and Skills Network will welcome visitors to stand G305.
The AGI Education and Skills Network contributes to ensuring the relevant skills exist in the UK workforce to underpin a thriving Geographic Information sector. With representation from AGI Wales, AGI Northern Ireland, AGI Scotland, AGI Early Careers Network, the Government Digital Service, Royal Geographical Society with IBG, and the recruitment sector. The Network works to a Terms of Reference describing its focus as carrying out an annual skills survey of AGI members to identify issues and trends in recruiting, retaining and developing talent, and the creation of a catalogue of geospatial skills providers in the UK.