10,000 young people to get foot in the door of Britain's tech sector as work placements rolled out across the country
The UK government will fund 10,000 work placements in tech over three years, aiming to connect young people with entry-level roles and address youth unemployment through partnerships with major employers.
The government is launching a three-year initiative to provide 10,000 work placements in the digital and technology sector for young people, particularly those not in education, employment or training. Major employers including Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, and others have committed to offering these opportunities, with a goal of reaching 20,000 entry-level jobs annually. The placements aim to help young people gain experience, build CVs, and secure pathways into tech careers.
To support early skill development, the government is rolling out the TechFirst programme across the UK, targeting at least one million secondary students, including 400,000 from disadvantaged schools. The programme includes workshops, career talks, workplace experiences, tech clubs, and access to the Ada Computer Science platform, designed to equip students with skills for better job prospects and higher earnings.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted the need for a whole-system approach to address youth unemployment, calling on employers to provide 200,000 additional work experience placements for 14- to 16-year-olds. Employers are encouraged to contact local Careers Hubs to pledge placements, ensuring young people gain early exposure to sectors like accountancy, digital media, and construction.
The announcement follows the publication of the Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan, which sets a target of 20,000 entry-level jobs annually and aligns government, industry, and education providers. The plan includes an initial 10,000 workplace experiences, with a broader goal of creating apprenticeships, training, and vocational opportunities to support economic growth and industrial renewal.