Somerset Digital Futures Project

The Somerset Digital Futures Project aims to develop systemic solutions to eliminate barriers preventing young people, especially those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, from pursuing apprenticeships and technical education in digital careers.

Project Goals

• Empowerment: Empower young people with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in digital careers.
• Inclusivity: Ensure inclusivity by prioritising support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities and socio-economically disadvantaged youth.
• Sustainability: Create sustainable models that can be adopted and adapted by various Careers Hubs.
• Collaboration: Foster collaboration between educational institutions, employers, and community organisations to support the project's goals.

Project Impacts

• Increased awareness of digital careers, training routes and local employers with young people in Somerset.
• SEND young people will have access to local Digital Supported Internship programmes, in a structured and timely rollout across Somerset.
• Students wishing to pursue digital post-16 training options will be supported in the application process, especially for those applying for a Digital Apprenticeship.
• Education providers will have greater interaction with digital businesses and will be able to embed this learning within their curriculum areas including Special Schools and Pupil Referral Units.
• Employers will have a greater pool of young people to recruit from and will gain a greater understanding of iinclusive recruitment processes to help them support employees both new and existing.
• The formation of a Collaborative Practitioner Partnership of employers, education teams and support services working together to the benefit of all, which can be replicated easily for other industry sectors.

How You Can Get Involved

We require the expertise and support of employers, organisations and partners across Somerset to deliver successful outcomes for young people in Somerset who are interested in digital roles and careers.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

We invite you to work with us to develop -

• Digital Supported Internship Development - click for details >
• Develop a new digital programme shared across a range of digital employers, set to start in September 2025.
• Digital Work Experience Programme Development:
• Create a bespoke weeklong programme of digital experiences.
• Provide mentoring support for those moving towards apprenticeships and other digital pathways.
• Understanding Digital Careers:
• Host workplace visits for school groups.
• Give assemblies or talks to students in schools.
• Support the creation of resources and videos about Somerset digital employers.
• Employer Inclusive Recruitment Processes:
• Help promote and roll out inclusive employment opportunities and information.

What is a Supported Internship?

Supported Employment is a personalised approach to support people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) into real jobs, where they can fulfill their employment aspirations and achieve social and economic inclusion.

• Structured Programme: A Supported Internship is a structured, real work-based study programme for 16-24 year olds with SEND who have an EHCP.
• Work Placement: It includes a substantial work placement element of 16 hours or more a week with a host employer(s), potentially with variable splits or rotations.
• Full-Time Course: Supported Interns are enrolled in a full-time course and supported by an educational provider, with the key element being that interns spend most of their learning time in the workplace.
• Job Coach Support: Interns are supported in work by an expert job coach who works closely with the educational provider and employer in partnership.
• Unpaid Internship: There is no expectation that interns are paid during their Supported Internship.

For further information, download our Employers Guide to Supported Internships & Apprenticeships or visit our Imagine the Possibilities page for more information.

Project Details

• Duration: Two-year project running from September 2024 to August 2026.
• Target Schools: Working with schools in the upper two quartiles of free school meal eligibility in Somerset, including 7 Special Schools, 4 PRUs, and 8 secondary schools.
• Focus: Young people with SEND (Special Education Needs & Disabilities), opening up opportunities for them to move into digital jobs and careers.
• Delivery of a wide range of digital careers activities, information, and resources including:
  • Visits to digital employers.
  • Development of innovative bespoke digital work experience weeks.
  • Free Microsoft Coding Workshops for all 19 schools.
  • Mentoring for students moving towards digital pathways and support to apply for apprenticeships/courses.
  • A Digital Supported Internship programme starting September 2025.
  • Support for digital employers in recruitment and inclusive working practices.