IN4 Group has secured a contract to deliver the TechFirst programme across the East Midlands on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The programme forms part of a £187m government-funded initiative designed to support digital skills and artificial intelligence education in schools and communities. As the East Midlands delivery partner, IN4 Group will lead the programme through its MEGA (Motivated, Educated, Generation with Ambition) Hubs network.
Over the next three years, the initiative is expected to engage around 45,000 secondary school students from 390 schools across the region. Participants will have access to technology-focused learning opportunities, including an AI Academy and technology-enriched curriculum activities.
The programme will be delivered in collaboration with The Careers & Enterprise Company and industry partners including CGI, QinetiQ, PA Consulting, Energus, Roke, BT, KPMG UK and Northrop Grumman.
The announcement comes as organisations across the East Midlands continue to address digital skills shortages. According to the East Midlands Combined County Authority, 21 per cent of residents lack basic digital literacy skills.
Lauren Monks, director of CyberFirst and MEGA Hubs at IN4 Group, said: “TechFirst is about helping more young people see a future for themselves in technology. Through our MEGA Hubs model, around 45,000 students across the East Midlands will have the opportunity to develop AI and data skills, connect with employers and explore different career paths.
“We have seen the impact this approach can have through our work in the West Midlands and North West, particularly for young people who may not otherwise consider a career in the sector.
“As the first generation of AI-native young people comes through our schools, we have a real opportunity to nurture their talent, broaden their horizons and help them access the opportunities available across the East Midlands.”
Image source: IN4 Group
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