BRITISH Computer Society (BCS) has launched a new programme called ‘My Digital Future’ to support young people from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to access various opportunities in the IT sector.
The Trade Desk*, a pioneer in global advertising technology that also sponsored a launch event of the initiative in London, has provided financial support for this scheme.
By offering individualised help, tools, and training financed by bursaries to young people who wish to find a career in the IT sector, the My Digital Future scheme seeks to address digital inequality.
It also aims to tackle the barriers to entry and progression by providing career guidance and support with access to a specialised coach. Experts will be chosen from BCS members and supporting partners like the Trade Desk.
Julia Adamson, Director of Education at BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, said: “We know that access to education and training can be influenced by an individual’s social and economic circumstances, and that’s as true for digital skills too. There is also evidence of barriers to acquiring digital skills among girls and young women, particular ethnic groups, or people with disabilities. There is a need to challenge and improve the diversity of those accessing and benefitting from excellent digital skills education and training.”
Only 22 per cent of UK IT specialists are women, according to the BCS 2022 Diversity Report.
Students aged between 16 and 24 from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups will be engaged in the programme.
The programme currently runs in London and soon will run in Birmingham and South Wales.
BCS, which is the Chartered Institute for IT, promotes wider social and economic progress through the advancement of information technology science, and practice.
*The Trade Desk is an American multinational technology company that specialises in real-time programmatic marketing automation technologies, products, and services, designed to personalise digital content delivery to users.
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