The idea was to create a work experience programme (as opposed to a placement) that offered students a good insight to different business functions by completing a short period of work experience in a total of 3 different teams and business areas. This was supplemented with some cohort activities to help students develop key skills that are essential for business and gaining employment. Sessions included; Digital Technology in the workplace, Leadership Training, Presentation Skills, Communicating with Confidence, Employability Skills, Interview and Application Coaching and Mock Interview Training.

A total of 6 students were offered a 45 day placement and we provided them with exposure to different business functions; Capability, Recruitment, Comms and Engagement, Practice Support, HR and Finance. During their placement, the students were placed in pairs and each group spent around 3 weeks working within a team before rotating to another team. They were all given 3 mini projects to complete. One project for each team rotation. The projects included elements of research, engagement, analysis, delivery and report writing. All students were assigned a line manager and a mentor to help them develop their skills and support them in their roles.

All students were given the opportunity to present an overview of their projects along with feedback and recommendations to senior colleagues. It was wonderful to see their hard work pay off as their feedback, research and recommendations directly contributed to the success of some of our wider programmes of work.

Delivering our ambitious transformation programme and continuing to provide best in class services requires the right digital skills and capability. Since 2018 we’ve been using our innovative talent pipeline programmes to grow our own.

While some areas are now established; only requiring iteration such as Software Engineering, others we’ve built as required such as Cloud and SDET. Having used 3rd party support to train and mentor previously, that investment created the opportunity to redesign, deliver and mentor the 2023 Academy cohort in-house.

This programme combines professional training with hands-on experience, creating careers in Cloud Engineering or Software Development Engineering in Test. Our innovative design approach sees the involvement of previous students, now graduates, and Senior Engineers. Designing, creating, and delivering training, mentoring, alongside virtual labs and hands-on learning for students in our new in-house bootcamp.

The Institute of Coding (IoC), led by the University of Bath, is a national collaboration of universities, employers, and charities dedicated to closing the UK’s digital skills gap and driving social mobility. Since 2018, we have developed over 150 courses with 35 UK universities, enrolling more than 1 million learners, particularly from underrepresented and marginalised groups.

In January 2023, we launched the £12 million Click Start programme, funded by Nominet. This nationwide initiative brings together educators, employers, and charities to tackle the UK’s digital skills gap and improve social mobility. Click Start provides technical and employability training, offering broad online courses and intensive deep provision programmes for those facing substantial barriers. By removing financial and structural obstacles, we are opening pathways to digital careers for people who have traditionally been excluded, transforming the UK workforce and creating new opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds.

The Data Skills Gateway was conceived to develop a strategic approach to increasing the data skills of the population of the city region, regardless of background, gender or location. This was in recognition of significant skill shortages in a key growth sector in our city region and underrepresentation in the tech sector more generally.
We have developed an innovative approach to upskilling, working in schools, local colleges, universities and with other training providers to create content and delivery approaches that are inclusive and flexible. By partnering with relevant third sector organisations we have also been able to provide targeted support to learners which has delivered improved outcomes for participants. The focus has included significant resources directed at upskilling teachers and college lecturers to ensure sustainability of the project and the mainstreaming of activity in future years. The approach has generated significant interest and receipt of a number of accolades.

Ideal for All is a charity run by and for disabled people. We know first hand how hard life is without equal access to digital. We work to ensure everyone has access, and we enable people that have been on that journey themselves to have their ‘voice’ heard, and to give back to other who need digital too.

Closing the gap on the digital divide, we supported over 1,700 disabled and vulnerable adults last year with vital digital skills, access to free data enabled devices and adaptive technology. Our staff also have disabilities including being visually impaired and share their knowledge, expertise and even equipment with others to give them access to the digital world on their terms – using low cost solutions which can be easily replicated at home such as generative free AI, adaptive technology and accessible equipment to give everyone access no matter their age, ability or background.

The Digital Help Finder is a tool that helps Salford residents access digital resources that suit their needs and location. It uses triage questions to match users with the best digital support available from 49 approved digital skills service providers and 91 local area resources. This tool makes finding digital support easier and saves time for frontline staff. It also helps residents develop their digital skills and join the digital society. Salford supported the development of this tool to address the digital skills gap that affects 15% of residents, especially those who face poverty and unemployment. Before, frontline staff had difficulty finding the right support for residents because of the lack of local information. The Digital Help Finder solves this problem with a simple interface that allows users to refer themselves or get referred by staff. The tool's smart directory and triage system ensure that users get the most suitable resources, improving digital inclusion and community well-being.

To build on the strengths of our communities by bringing together employees, residents, volunteers and partners to upskill the residents of our borough to embrace technologies, build confidence and community resilience.

In addition to the fundamental basic digital skills, we want to ensure that our residents are afforded the same opportunities to access groundbreaking technologies, in a fun and safe environment. Our commitment to these alternative technologies is more than just an investment in digital skills—it’s a strategic move towards improving health outcomes and reducing the financial strain on NHS and Council Services. This proactive “Invest to Save” approach is our answer to the pressing national discourse on adult social care funding. By championing these innovative technologies, we are crafting a future where digital inclusivity is not a mere aspiration but a tangible reality for all.

Our primary aim was to facilitate collaboration and learning to develop, retain and attract a skilled, confident, and knowledgeable workforce to improve health and social care outcomes for citizens. In doing this we want to clearly demonstrate that embracing digital ways of working and learning new skills can support recruitment and critically retention within health and social care. Working, collaboratively with stakeholders and partners developing resources through the lens of the learner, building active engaged learning networks, which supports digitally enabling the workforce in shaping the future services across the health and social care sector. Developing a new generation of digital leaders who can drive, deliver, and embed digital transformation across the whole sector.

Our core proposition is to inspire and excite young people i.e the next generation into progressing and ultimately entering a digital career, and where better to start than with our young people in primary schools. Working in partnership with SmartStems, the City has delivered digital skills workshops 22 primary schools. In total, 2337 young people have benefitted from the current programme of work including workshops on evolving technologies, programming profiles, gifs and graphs and code breaking. All workshops regardless of subject matter include an online presentation from an industry professional designed to give young people an insight into the different types of digital careers available to them and the skills required for these, hear about the workplace and the wider world of work. Sessions are very hands on and aimed at promoting a career in digital, ultimately and innovatively taking a long term approach to closing the digital skills gap across the city, working with and inspiring the next generation to develop the skills they require for the future.

At iDEA, we're on a mission to empower everyone with digital skills for success, no matter their background or current circumstances.

Our platform is like a digital playground for the curious, where you can explore everything from digital ethics, digital marketing, cybersecurity and video editing to AI, blockchain, and VR. You will build a portfolio of skills that help you stand out!

As you progress through our interactive content and game-like challenges, you earn digital badges and collect points that unlock Bronze, Silver and Gold Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award certificates.

We team up with industry experts to keep our content fresh and relevant, setting today’s students up for success in tomorrow's careers.

The best part? It's all free, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. We're breaking down barriers and opening doors to exciting digital futures.