{"id":2181455,"date":"2026-10-26T09:04:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T09:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/?p=2181455"},"modified":"2026-10-26T09:04:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T09:04:18","slug":"digital-skills-workplaces-unlocked-with-new-programme-for-next-gen-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/news\/2181455-digital-skills-workplaces-unlocked-with-new-programme-for-next-gen-talent","title":{"rendered":"Digital skills workplaces unlocked with new programme for next gen talent"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 100 young people from across the Liverpool City Region took part in an AI Skills Festival as the Government announced plans to create 10,000 new tech work placements and expand digital skills opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The event at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium aimed to help young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) kick off their careers with skills training from industry experts including Microsoft, Accenture and LinkedIn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was hosted by youth employment charity Movement to Work in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vicky Foxcroft, Minister for Youth and Digital Skills, launched the Government’s Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan and the nationwide roll-out of the TechFirst programme.<\/span><\/p>\n

All secondary schools are now able to access TechFirst, which aims to reach one million students by 2028, including 400,000 from the most disadvantaged schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

The minister also announced 10,000 new work experience placements in the UK\u2019s digital and tech sector and called on employers to deliver 20,000 entry-level digital and tech jobs a year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: \u201cYoung people today are growing up in a world that looks very different from the one my generation grew up in. The cost-of-living crisis and uncertainty about the future are already creating real challenges, while rapid advances in AI and technology are changing the world of work at an unprecedented pace.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I believe there are huge opportunities for our region if we get this right. AI has the potential to open doors, create new careers and help drive our economy forward. Our responsibility as leaders is to make sure young people have the skills, confidence and support to seize those opportunities – regardless of their background or circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat means helping them understand not just how to use new technology, but how to use it responsibly and for good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThe government\u2019s commitment to 10,000 new tech work placements is a welcome step towards turning that ambition into reality. Ultimately, this is about more than preparing young people for the future – it\u2019s about making sure they have a genuine stake in shaping it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Liverpool City Region is one of eight areas selected to take part in the government’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme, helping young people overcome barriers to education, employment and training.<\/span><\/p>\n

Young people attending the festival took part in practical workshops covering AI, digital networking, entrepreneurship and job-search skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

They also had the opportunity to meet employers, receive professional profile photographs and learn about local job opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The festival included practical AI skills sessions delivered by technology experts, networking opportunities with employers, and workshops designed to help young people navigate recruitment processes and build confidence in applying for jobs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vicky Foxcroft said: “Young people are crying out for opportunities to get into the workforce – with 800,000 digital and tech roles needing filling by 2035, we have the opportunities for this generation sitting right in front of us.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s going to take all parts of society working together to bridge the gap for young people to move from learning to earning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s been wonderful to see the great work that Liverpool City Region, employers and partners are all putting into the city, to create brilliant opportunities for young people to get experiences, make connections and get into work to start building their future.” Movement to Work Chief Executive, Charlotte McGrath, said: “Young people deserve the opportunity to fulfil their potential, but for many the first step into employment can be the hardest.<\/span><\/p>\n

“By bringing employers, technology leaders and young people together, we’re helping to break down barriers and create meaningful pathways into work. The enthusiasm we’ve seen here today demonstrates the appetite young people have to learn new skills and build their futures.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional sessions included an entrepreneurship workshop exploring how AI tools can support young people interested in self-employment, alongside practical employability advice covering CV writing, applications, interview skills and workplace expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Participants will also gain access to ongoing support and digital learning opportunities following the event, including LinkedIn learning resources and careers guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All secondary schools are now able to access TechFirst<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":217725,"featured_media":2181456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50204],"coauthors":[46761],"class_list":["post-2181455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-featured-story","tag-liverpool-city-region"],"yoast_head":"\nDigital skills workplaces unlocked with new programme for next gen talent<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"All secondary schools are now able to access TechFirst\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/news\/2181455-digital-skills-workplaces-unlocked-with-new-programme-for-next-gen-talent\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" 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