Inspire Young People
Develop Digital Skills
Bridge Education and Industry
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See the highlights from our July 2025 Showcase and Awards show.
Project Overview
Welcome to the Digital Futures Accelerator! This project helps young people in East Sussex explore tech careers and learn valuable skills for the real world. It's run by the East Sussex Careers Hub and TechNative Digital, and funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company. The goal is to connect schools, students, and businesses to encourage tech careers after age 16.
Our main goals are:
Showcase Tech Careers
Help more young people discover different tech jobs and understand how to get into them after high school.
Practical Experience
Give students real opportunities to learn by doing.
Connect Education and Industry
Build stronger links between schools and tech companies.
The Digital Futures Accelerator is a two-year programme running until Summer 2026. It asks students in East Sussex schools to imagine and design a digital product that solves a problem they care about.
Whether it’s an app to find local activities, a platform to connect dog sitters, or using AI for personalized birthday messages, it’s all about using imagination to create something new and useful for real people.
Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or mentor, the Digital Futures Accelerator is your chance to make a difference and inspire the next generation of tech experts. Join us and help shape the future of tech!
Digital Futures Accelerator
Teacher Guide + Project Handbook
Welcome to the Digital Futures Accelerator (DFA) - where classroom innovation meets real-world digital skills. This comprehensive guide equips teachers with everything needed to lead students through an engaging project-based learning experience that develops crucial digital literacy, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Programme Overview
The Digital Futures Accelerator (DFA) is a six-month journey where creativity meets technology. Students collaborate in teams to design, prototype, and pitch digital solutions to real-world problems — supported every step of the way by mentors from the tech and creative industries.
From the first spark of an idea to the excitement of the final showcase, the DFA challenges young people to think big, build boldly, and shape the digital future.
1
Unleash Your Vision: Team Setup & Discovery
Dive in! Form dynamic student teams, brainstorm groundbreaking ideas, and actively uncover pressing digital challenges right within your community. Lay the strategic groundwork and establish clear project foundations for innovative solutions that truly make a difference.
2
Innovate & Build: Design & Development
Bring your ideas to life! Craft impactful prototypes, then develop and code cutting-edge digital solutions. Relentlessly test your creations, gather crucial feedback, and iterate through multiple cycles to refine your concepts to perfection.
3
Conquer the Crowd: Branding & Pitching
Master the art of persuasion! Forge powerful brand identities that truly resonate with your audience. Learn essential storytelling techniques and prepare captivating, high-stakes presentations designed to showcase your solutions and convince others of their immense value.
4
Celebrate Success: Grand Showcase
The moment of truth! Unveil your groundbreaking innovations to an esteemed audience of peers, industry experts, and potential investors. This thrilling event is the culmination of your hard work, celebrating creativity, collaboration, and real-world impact.
Purpose Of The Project
The Digital Futures Accelerator aims to achieve three core objectives:
1
Spark Digital Dreams
Inspire students with exciting digital and tech career opportunities, showcasing innovative tools and emerging trends. Hands-on learning helps them envision their place in technology's future.
2
Develop Skills
Strengthen essential skills like problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, and communication through engaging projects. These experiences build adaptability and innovation for academic and career success.
3
Bridge Education & Industry
Connect schools with the professional world. Industry mentors share real career insights, helping students see how education directly leads to future opportunities and boosting confidence.
How The Project Works
Our six-month program guides students from their initial ideas to a final presentation.
1
November / December
We will visit your school or college to deliver an assembly or class meeting on the project and an intro to Digital Careers
2
January
Teachers learn how to run the program and use digital tools. Students are matched with professionals from the industry who will guide them.
3
February→May
Students work on their projects, moving from initial ideas to testing. Their mentors help them weekly with advice and feedback to improve their work.
4
June:
Students show off their projects to experts and leaders. This event helps them get feedback, show their skills, and find future job or education opportunities.
Are You Ready?
Ready to elevate your teaching and inspire the next generation of digital leaders? The Digital Futures Accelerator provides everything you need to bring cutting-edge tech education to your classroom.
Innovate Your Curriculum
Integrate engaging, project-based learning that ignites student curiosity in digital careers.
Prepare Students for Tomorrow
Equip students with vital skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Join a Supportive Network
Gain access to a vibrant community of educators and industry mentors for ongoing support.