Leeds City Region welcomes new digital careers initiative for future generations

Leeds-based social enterprise Ahead Partnership has launched a new careers initiative designed to inspire young people pursuing roles in the digital sector across Leeds City Region.

In a launch event at Hippo Campus in Leeds, Ahead Partnership brought together 60 representatives from organisations across the public and private sectors to introduce its latest scheme.

The #AheadinDigital scheme aims to see digital sector employers from businesses to unite and deliver consistent messages that inspire and promote understanding about digital career opportunities amongst school and college students.

With a UK-wide skills gap in the digital sector and a considerable 14,000 vacancies available for digital professionals over the last year in Leeds City Region alone, the careers initiative wants to increase diversity and fulfill future sector demand.

Stephanie Burras CBE, chief executive of Ahead Partnership, said: “We are delighted to see months of planning come together in what has been a hugely successful inaugural event to launch #AheadinDigital this morning.

“The digital sector is facing difficulty in trying to attract the skilled workforce it needs and therefore we are bringing together many innovative businesses with a single collective aim - to provide a clearer message that has a greater impact upon the sector’s workforce pipeline.

“#AheadinDigital will be a collaborative scheme, equally beneficial to employers and young people alike, that engages students and encourages them to think about the opportunities in the digital sector, whilst providing employers with the chance to raise their profile and take a necessary step forwards in tackling industry concerns.”

Meanwhile, around 97 per cent of the post-16 students involved in the Farnell Technology Centre Challenge said that the initiative improved their understanding of skills needed to work in tech.

The new #AheadinDigital scheme will be designed by Ahead Partnership and delivered through careers and experiential activities over the course of the academic year.