South West - Digital and Technology Skills Programme

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology awarded a contract worth £1,369,690.46 to Spark South West on 16 July 2026 to serve as the Regional Delivery Partner for the South West, delivering the TechYouth programme—part of the Government's TechFirst digital and technology skills initiative. The partner will conduct on-the-ground delivery of skills-building activities and career inspiration events for schools and colleges, working with local industry and academia to engage approximately 1 million students across the UK with digital skills development, AI confidence-building, and career pathway exploration. The programme particularly targets underrepresented groups, including girls and students from socioeconomic disadvantage, to build a sustainable and diverse technology talent pipeline supporting the sector's long-term growth.