Programme
Royal Academy of Engineering
Supporting undergraduates from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to get into AI research and careers
Demystifying the tech industry and showcasing tech careers for UK state school students, with a focus on girls and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Hg Foundation is partnering with Speakers for Schools to launch their new IntoTech programme for students aged 12-16. Speakers for Schools is a social mobility charity aiming to deliver impactful interventions to young people in UK state schools, to inspire them to reach their full potential and follow pathways into rewarding careers. In 2016 that began offering work experience opportunities to students, making them the largest work experience provider in the UK.
The IntoTech programme is designed to demystify the tech industry and has a particular focus on working with girls and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The ambition is to engage and inspire students through showcasing tech careers, with the aim to increase their interest in the sector and highlight the pathways and skills needed to enter the tech workforce.
The programme will span four years, starting with a pilot year that includes 10,600 opportunities. If successful, the following three years will provide a further 84,400 opportunities. The programme will offer a blend of interventions including inspirational activities, work experiences and access to mentoring; it will also feature a multi-year evaluation, measuring its effectiveness on student outcomes and attitudes towards tech pathways.
To find out more about Speakers for Schools, please visit their webpage: speakersforschools.org
“This is a pivotal moment for the UK tech sector. Partnering with The Hg Foundation allows us to deliver a seismic shift in the uptake of tech careers among underrepresented groups. By combining inspirational talks from tech pioneers with meaningful work experiences, we’re not just opening doors, we’re breaking them down.”
“Too many young people, especially girls, are put off tech careers early on in school, and simply don’t realise the vast range of opportunities in the sector. Our partnership with Speakers for Schools is aimed to make a step change in attitudes and opportunities for young people. By giving pupils access to inspirational figures, real experience of the workplace and expert mentorship to thousands of young people, we hope that we will help many more to choose a pathway into tech that will be good for social mobility and for the country’s future skills needs.”
