Telefonica : Telefónica Plans Week of Digital Skills Activities for Europe Code Week

13 October 2014 Europe Code Week is taking place place for the second time between Saturday, October 11th and Friday, October 17th, 2014 and aims to celebrate coding, the art and science of talking to computers as well as digital skills development. Telefónica alongside the European Commission will be part of this movement with activities for young people in Spain, Germany and The UK.

These include coding workshops; digital business planning days; competitions; Think Big school sessions and in-store O2 Guru bytes workshops which all stem from the many on-going programmes supporting digital skills and the empowerment of young people Telefónica backs at the European level. 

EU Code Week is another initiative in which Telefónica is involved to further raise awareness around digital skills and contribute to European wide movement.  It is also part of the European Digital Forum leading a work stream on digital skills in partnership with Mozilla Foundation.  For Activities organized by Telefónica during EU Code Week please click here.

Europe Code Week coincides with the publication today of the second edition of Telefónica's Global Millennial Survey, which quizzed 6,700 18 to 30-year olds across 18 countries on their feelings about the world in which they live, how technology impacts their lives and their personal goals and dreams. 

Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission, in charge of the Digital Agenda for Europe said: "The most important thing for all companies today is to "Think Big" when it comes to digital change. I am glad to see Telefonica and others in the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs and Skills doing that. Learning to code and upgrading digital skills is critical - not for just for Europe and companies, but for you as an individual. Digital skills are the key to having career options."

Wayra and Talentum are the other two pillars on which the company's digital transformation is based. All have the objective of promoting entrepreneurialism, self-reliance and empowerment.  A deeper understanding of technology is becoming the new literacy and a much needed competitive advantage of a digital Europe.

Frederic Michel, Global Director of Public Engagement at Telefónica said:  "The transformation into a Digital Telco has made Telefónica evolve.  We are no longer a traditional Telco, so we must think and act differently.  Those we employ and invest in are key in changing behaviours and bringing further innovation to our business and to Europe."

35,000 millennials work for Telefónica worldwide and many more benefit from Telefónica's youth development programmes, recruitment initiatives and digital incubators.  It is the company belief that securing a more prosperous Europe can only be achieved if opportunity is open to all and the necessary skills are given to utilise the possibilities of digital.

The idea behind Europe Code Week is to connect local organizations and volunteers and to showcase existing initiatives and good practices across Europe, inspiring European citizens of all ages to start learning the languages of computers. Code Week was started by Vice President Neelie Kroes'Young Advisors, who, together with other local ambassadors, want to see more of their peers actively creating, not just consuming digital content.

Notes to editors

About Telefonica

Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation and number of customers. With its best in class mobile, fixed and broadband networks, and innovative portfolio of digital solutions, Telefónica is transforming itself into a 'Digital Telco', a company that will be even better placed to meet the needs of its customers and capture new revenue growth.

The company has a significant presence in 24 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 313 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.

Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.551.024.586 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, New York, Lima, and Buenos Aires.

About EU Code Week

European Code Week 2014 kicked off on 11 October: over 1500 events bringing the digital world to life - across the EU and countries from Norway to Turkey.

The spotlight on coding comes as seven European education ministers have already incorporated compulsory coding into their school curricula, with another five countries offering it as an option in schools.

EU Code Week is an initiative of the Young Advisers to Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes. The initiative has attracted the support of coding and education movements and is also backed by major tech and IT companies.

About Think Big

Think Big is a Telefonica Initiative it is live across Europe and it is a big project with big goals. In conjunction with partners, volunteers and young people, it delivers programmes to inspire; help young people gain the skills for today's economy; think like entrepreneurs; to take the initiative; to be self-reliant; and to make their ideas come alive.

We give young people the training, support and money they need to get creative: the space to turn their ideas into actions, learn new skills, create projects - and even to fail. And we do it with tens of thousands of young people across Europe.

About Wayra

Wayra is a startup accelerator owned by Telefónica. Wayra first launched in Latin America and Spain in 2011 and there are now 14 Wayra academies in 12 countries in Europe and Latin America. Companies accepted into the Wayra program receive funding of up to €40,000 plus office space and mentoring.

In 2014, Wayra accepted a group of 6 start-ups into its accelerator including Cloudwear, YoYo, and RotaGeek.

About Talentum

With Talentum , Telefónica seeks to promote young talent throughout the business and open the right doors for this generation; equip them with the tools and support needed in encouraging them to participate in the creation of a new European digital world.

About Talentum Schools

Talentum Schools is a Telefónica initiative to foster the development of kids and teens as technology creators, able not only to consume digital goods but also to create them, and to increase future technology vocations. Following a "learning by doing" approach by means of playful technology workshops. kids & teens participating in Talentum Schools develop their creative thinking abilities and react to unexpected problems with innovative solutions.

For Activities organized by Telefónica during EU Code Week please click here.