Aston University wins government funding to offer digital skills training to disadvantaged young people

An Aston University project to offer digital skills training and work experience to disadvantaged young people has won funding from the UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The Digital Futures Work Experience Programme offers disadvantaged people aged 13-23 50 hours of employer-led digital- and AI-focused activities.

It is designed to build digital confidence, AI literacy, and career-ready skills, as well as expanding networks and creating progression routes into apprenticeships, employment, and further study.

It uses virtual simulations and employer challenges to build skills, confidence, and career readiness, addressing digital poverty and supporting progression.

The programme, which has received £261,577, is one of 80 funded by DSIT from the first-of-its-kind £11.7 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, aimed to help the most vulnerable in communities get online with confidence.

Dr Angel Tan, a teaching fellow in Aston University School of Psychology, is the principal investigator for the project, providing academic leadership, overseeing the evaluation strategy and coordinating with We Job Box. 

Dr Laura Di Chiacchio, a lecturer at Aston Business School, is the co-investigator.

The Digital Futures Work Experience Programme will be designed and delivered by Lalita Taylor, founder and CEO of We Job Box, a UK-based innovation lab reimagining work experience for disadvantaged young people.

We Job Box develops employer-led, digital and AI-driven learning experiences.

With strong networks across both major employers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the organisation ensures participants gain industry-relevant, high-impact exposure that supports real pathways into work and further education.

The programme will also involve partners from schools, colleges, and youth organisations.

Learners on the scheme, including those not in education, employment, or training (NEET), will progress through five digital badges aligned with UK priority sectors – digital and AI, health and wellbeing, engineering and design, business and consulting, and green innovation.

Traditional work experience is increasingly scarce, despite it being valued by employers - 29 per cent consider it critical and 45 per cent significant when recruiting.

UK government research in 2024 found that work experience placements improve confidence, understanding of workplace norms, and readiness for employment.

The Digital Futures Work Experience Programme offers a good alternative to traditional work experience placements with similar benefits.

Part of the grant will be used to provide 100 laptops and headsets as a shared equipment pool.

Many of the participants lack suitable or reliable devices and this equipment pool will enable all to participate fully in the virtual campus classes, employer challenges and mentoring sessions.

Dr Tan said: “This project stems from my research interest in transforming curricula to equip students with the career readiness needed for success in the 21st-century digital workplace.

“Through this collaboration with We Job Box and their industry partners, we are helping to drive employability, digital inclusion, and social mobility, while empowering young people with the confidence and insight needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

“The strong internal support for this initiative reflects Aston University’s commitment to widening participation and ensuring that young people from underrepresented backgrounds have access to meaningful digital opportunities, in line with our wider strategy to deliver real-world impact through education and industrial partnerships.”