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Workshop

Tech Futures

10-month programme which includes 2 weeks of paid work experience, interactive employability skills training and mentoring for those in Year 12 or S5.

Tech Futures
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This experience is targeted at schools with a high proportion of students from groups who are underrepresented in the engineering profession.

Find out if your school is eligible

Tech Futures is a 10-month programme which includes 2 weeks of paid work experience, interactive employability skills training and mentoring for those in Year 12 or S5 in Scotland. 

The technology and digital sector continues to grow as the world is shaped by virtual experiences. This specialist programme, supported by international technology companies, allows for insight, work experience and mentorship from technology professionals at the cutting edge of the latest digital advancements.

The 2 weeks of work experience will take place from 1 to 10 August 2022 in Manchester.

• Week 1 – focus on key employability skills: interactive workshops with EY Foundation and meeting external employers from different sectors.
• Week 2 – 3 days of hands-on work experience with an EY Foundation corporate partner, in this instance, the Cabinet Office Digital Team.

Following the work experience, the students are allocated a personal mentor for 10 months to support them with everything from CVs, to university applications, applying for jobs and anything to support them.

The programme is formally recognised and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, and will help young people develop key skills that are essential in the workplace.

The eligibility criteria is:
• Year 12 students in state schools
• Students who have been eligible for free school meals at some point in the last 2 years (they do not necessarily have had to claim) OR eligible for (not necessarily claiming or in receipt of) College Bursary or Education

There are 15 places available.

Learning outcomes

  • Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects

  • Learning what the engineering workplace is like

  • Develop engineering employability skills

  • Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers

Subjects and topics

    • Design and Technology
    • Biotechnology
    • Electronics, robotics and programming

Gatsby benchmarks

The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:

  • Learning from career and labour market information
  • Addressing the needs of each pupil
  • Linking curriculum learning to careers
  • Encounters with employers and employees
  • Experiences of workplaces

Essential skills

The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:

  • Speaking - the oral transmission of information or ideas.

  • Teamwork - working cooperatively with others towards achieving a shared goal.

What the teachers say

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A robotics-based STEM competition that develops 21st century workplace skills.

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  • Cost applies Bursaries available

Careers resources

Poster

Green engineering careers posters

A set of 4 inspiring green engineering careers posters for students to think about how they can change the way we (they) move, eat, use and power things. Each poster comes with some prompts on the back, for teachers to use with their students in class, as part of a class discussion, small group activity or suggested homework.

Leaflet

Inspiring future engineers: notes for teachers

Teachers can use this 4-page leaflet to familiarise themselves with key points about engineering careers to talk about with their students. This covers what engineering is, why it's a good career choice, what the routes in are, and other tips.