Inspiring the next generation of Digital talent in East Sussex
Project Overview
Welcome to the Digital Futures Accelerator - a project inspiring East Sussex youth to explore tech careers and develop real-world skills. Led by the East Sussex Careers Hub and TechNative Digital and Funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company, this initiative connects schools, students, and industry to promote post 16 pathways in Tech and promote tech careers as a destination.
Our mission is to:
Increase awareness and participation in Tech Careers
Highlight diverse tech careers and highlight pathways for post 16 learning
Hands-On Experience
Provide practical learning opportunities.
Education-Industry Links
Strengthen connections between education and industry.
The Digital Futures Accelerator is a two-year initiative that challenges pupils in East Sussex Sussex schools to imagine and design a digital product that solves a problem they’re passionate about. Whether it’s an app to find local activities for young people, a platform to connect dog sitters, or using AI to write personalized birthday messages, it’s all about using imagination to create something helpful, innovative, and viable as a product with a real audience.
Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or mentor, the Digital Futures Accelerator is your chance to make a real impact and inspire the next generation of tech talent. Get Involved and Shape the Future of Tech!
The Project Brief
This project encourages students to think like innovators, collaborate as a team, and showcase their talents in technology, creativity, and business.
The project will be run in schools as an extracurricular project that will provide pupils with a fantastic opportunity to develop the skills and confidence to move into future Digital learning pathways.
Website Development
Build a prototype website homepage and create a site map of your digital product.
Brand Identity, communications and marketing
Develop a brand identity, including a logo, promotional video, and social media content.
Business Plan
Craft a business plan and deliver a professional pitch to industry experts.
Ready to Get Started?
Click below for the full project brief, including detailed guidance and tips to help your team succeed.
Click below for the full project brief, including detailed guidance and tips to help your team succeed.
Meet Our Mentors
Guiding the Next Generation of Innovators
Our incredible team of industry mentors is here to support and inspire student teams throughout the Digital Futures Accelerator. These experts come from leading companies like Shopify, Netflix and Switchplane and occupy roles such as:
Product Managers
UX Designers
Global Partnership Managers
Software Developers
AI Specialists
Business Leaders
Cloud specialists
Support & Guidance
How to get started
See our step by step guide to planning your project
Teacher Workshops
Participate in our session where we will run through the project and provide more in depth information on planning and delivering your project
Careers Assemblies
Every participating school will receive a Digital Careers assembly as an introduction to the project
Impact & Outcomes
1
Digital Skills
Students gain essential tech skills for the 21st-century workplace.
2
Project Management and Team skills
Groups will need to collaborate between technical, creative and business focussed activities to deliver on the brief
3
Career Pathways
Exposure to diverse tech careers inspires future educational choices.
4
Industry Connections
Schools build lasting partnerships with local tech companies and professionals.
Project Timeline for 2024
There is still time for Schools to get involved. We can arrange to come to your school for an assembly as soon as you sign up and inspire your pupils to start creating! See below for project timeline.
1
Autumn Term
Digital Careers Assemblies to inspire students and launch the project.
2
Spring Term
Workshops and mentor support to develop ideas and build projects. Students will focus on designing an imagined digital product, combining technical (web development), creative (media & branding), and business (planning & marketing) skills. Each team works with a tech industry mentor.
3
Summer Term
A final Showcase Event in June, where student teams will pitch their ideas to industry experts and compete for awards in creativity, innovation, and teamwork. This project encourages students to explore tech careers, equips them with future job skills, and creates lasting connections between schools and the local tech industry.
Join the Digital Revolution
Be part of shaping the future of tech education. Together, we can empower the next generation of digital innovators.