Written by: on October 6, 2021Tags: InnovateHer Updates
Working in collaboration with Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Create Education and BAE Systems, we are on a mission to inspire young people about digital and tech careers to help build Lancashire’s future digital workforce, by launching our state of the art tech eLearning platform into classrooms across Lancashire. Research shows that1 fewer than one in six of the Lancashire digital workforce is female, and with an agenda to ‘Get girls ready for the tech industry, and the tech industry ready for girls’ – we felt empowered to help.
With the support from BAE Systems and the LEP, this 12month #InspiringLancashire project will give schools across Lancashire the support to facilitate our Tech4Good : UX Design course in their schools, arming over 4500 teens with competitive tech skills, and once in a lifetime opportunities.
Jenny Manning, Additive Manufacturing Lead in BAE Systems’ Air Sector, said:“The long-term impact of the pandemic on young people is far reaching and as a large employer in Lancashire, we have a role to play in inspiring future generations about the multiple pathways into technology and engineering professions, particularly as these skills become increasingly important as we work towards a greener and more sustainable economy. This funding is part of the Company’s long-term commitment to deliver high value training, support and careers that are accessible to young people from diverse backgrounds in the region.”
Debbie Francis, Chair, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said:“We are delighted to be working in partnership with BAE Systems, CREATE Education and InnovateHer to work together through the Lancashire Careers Hub with schools to inspire young people about the plethora of digital and tech careers currently in demand and forecast to grow in Lancashire. Together, we are committed to building our future digital and tech workforce which will accelerate industrial digitalisation and support the drive towards a net zero economy across the area.”
Chelsea Slater, CEO, InnovateHer, said:“We are delighted to be expanding the reach of our programmes to Lancashire, with support from BAE Systems. It means that thousands of local girls will be inspired and equipped with the skills and confidence that they need to consider careers in tech. “With just 17% of the tech workforce being female in the UK, we know that it’s really important to work with young people to address this imbalance. We hope it will help local employers recruit more diverse talent in the future and provide opportunities for young people who may not have realised that they too can have a career in tech.” Building stronger collaboration between private and public sectors will strengthen Lancashire’s local digital capital, supporting the region to recover from the impact of COVID-19 and build a future talent pipeline as recommended in the techUK research ‘Building the Future We Need’.”
More than 70 high schools have been approached to take part in the #InspiringLancashire project, including schools in Blackpool, Blackburn, Darwen and Preston.
The launch of the projects coincides with Lancashire Innovation Week, which acts as a virtual showcase of some of Lancashire’s latest innovations in a series of web-based events.
We are calling all Lancashire schools to champion their students, and join us on this free project. As part of the project, schools will:
Below is a demo of our e-learning platform, now being tested in schools across the UK.
April 22, 2024 - Lauren