OUR IN-SCHOOL/COLLEGE PROGRAMME

Tech Labs

Our Tech Labs are an evolution of CloudyGroup’s original award-winning App-Prentice Challenge where participating young people (ranging from Year 9 – Year 12) are tasked with finding a digital solution to a real-world problem briefed by a sponsoring business.

Facilitated by Cloudy Foundation staff through a blend of online and in-person events in schools/ colleges, Tech Labs take place over approximately five to six double-class sessions (equating to around 10 – 12 hours).

In line with the principles of the Gatsby Benchmarks, students are encouraged to apply employment and digital skills through practical encounters with our mentors from business and educational partners on the programme.

If you are an Industry Expert, a potential sponsor, a Tutor or an educational provider who is interested in partnering with us, please contact us for an initial conversation, using our Contact Us Form.

Express Your Interest in Becoming a Student
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Why We Need Tech Labs

Schools don’t have the capacity to teach the tech skills young people will need for the future.

Employers don’t have the insight into the potential of young people.

Young people don’t have an equal playing field and often don’t know where to start.

But on top of all this, post Coronavirus, young people are about to face the greatest youth employment challenge on record!

Our Enterprise Academy brings all stakeholders together, identifies their needs and creates a real-life centred curriculum to deliver for all.

It’s a win-win for everyone –

  • Employers get the skills pipeline (and products) they need.
  • Schools can fulfil more of their Gatsby benchmarks.
  • Young people get the learning, employment networks & opportunities they need.
  • Volunteers and participants benefit from the virtuous circle of shaping this journey.

The Drawing the Future report published in 2018 by the charity ‘Education and Employers’, revealed that the difference between children’s career aspirations from age seven to 17 are marginal.  

It concluded that the skills mismatch observed in the labour market has its roots in primary school, and that  giving all children, regardless of gender and social background, the same chance to meet professionals in a variety of fields is the key to widening their view of the world of work. 

36% based their careers aspirations on someone they know
36%
45% of job aspirations were influenced by TV, film & radio
45%

Quotes From the Industry Experts!

“For the UK to lead the way as an economic powerhouse we need to equip young people with the digital capabilities employers are crying out for that will help us continue to invent and innovate.

The combined expertise of industry and academia has the power to unlock a new kind of education experience that combines learning with employability skills and helps academic institutions blend the academic and industry skills required.

By working alongside further and higher education institutes Microsoft can help teaching keep pace with technology changes and ensure students learn the skills they will need from day one in the workplace. Equally importantly, we can make sure today’s students are prepared for the workplace of the future, which will rely ever more heavily on advanced technologies including AI, data and cloud computing.”
Chris RothwellDirector of Education at Microsoft UK
"The failure to provide youth with a complete set of skills in a formal manner leads to a new digital divide between digital lifestyle skills and digital workplace skills.

The lack of proficiency in the tools needed for today’s workforce contributes to an increasingly lost generation, who are unable to realise their full potential as learners, employees, entrepreneurs or citizens using digital technologies."
ECDL Foundation Report, 2014The Fallacy of the ‘Digital Native’: Why Young People Need to Develop their Digital Skills
“Our research shows that demand for basic digital skills is already nearly universal, and demand for more advanced digital skills will continue to increase. Helping young people develop the digital skills that employers need will be vital both to driving our economic competitiveness, and to ensuring young people can succeed in the labour market of the future.

Yet while demand has increased, the number of people taking IT courses across GCSE, A Level, further education and apprenticeships has declined in recent years.

We need to see a step-change in ambition on digital skills, with government, employers, providers and local areas working together to deliver the digital skills we will need.”
Stephen EvansChief Executive, Learning and Work Institute
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OUR CONCEPT

How Our Award-Winning Programme Works

Cloudy Foundation Tech Lab

The App-Prentice Challenge Evolution to a Tech Lab

Our Tech Lab programme develops on our original App-Prentice Challenge by providing students with even greater opportunities to improve their technical and interpersonal skills through experiential learning alongside a wide-range of professional partners.

Introducing the participants to powerful Microsoft tools and technology through a series of encounters with employers and education partners, Tech Lab students are given all the support and resources they need, online and offline, inside and outside of school/college, to help them thrive in our digital world.

Participants are able to gain a practical understanding of the business subjects and skills that are required to produce their business App and digital media project – from project managing, filming, and designing, to developing, presenting, and marketing their work.

THE TECH LAB FORMAT

What to Expect

  • A competition against the clock applying new creative, technical & business skills
  • Teams work together to design, market, develop, film, & present their digital project
  • A fun & engaging way to learn new skills & try new digital media tools in school/college
  • Students have freedom to meet the business brief whilst testing their critical-thinking, time-management & collaboration skills
  • Supported learning with education partners, business mentors, and student peers to open up new opportunities for everyone involved
  • A unique & rewarding experience where students' new skills, unlocked talents, & achievements are celebrated
  • The winning team's digital media concept is built by the students alongside professionals for real-world business use
  • All Tech Lab students are welcome to join our Enterprise Academy
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Benefits for Students & Educators

A supported environment to develop workplace skills

Work that has a real-world business application

A creative, practical, & fun learning experience

Access to unique employer & education opportunities

Rewarding academic, social & career interactions

What Participating Students Have to Say

87% of participating students were positive that the Challenge had helped them make decisions about their next steps in terms of education, training or work.
87%
79% of participating students said they would recommend that other schools do the Challenge
79%
67% of participating students said they would like to be contacted about career opportunities with the local business partners facilitating the Challenge
67%
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What Students Have to Say

Benefits for Sponsors

Building the workforce of tomorrow & new community relationships with potential future partners

Enriching young people’s lives with work that has a real-world  application in your business

Providing enriched learning opportunities that encourage creativity & innovation

Supporting socially-inclusive opportunities that create positive stories for your business

Nurturing for STEM-related careers & developing core competencies & workplace skills in young people.

What Participating Sponsors Have to Say

This enriching learning experience has been a great end to the school year. The school is very proud of our Year 10s who have responded well to an inspiring event. We expect our students to continue to work with our local business partners and for our school to also benefit from the new revision app that has been researched, embraced and built by our very own accomplished Year 10 entrepreneurs.
Andria Hanham
Andria HanhamPrincipal at The Mandeville School (2018)
This has been a fantastic experience for our students. As the first Year 10 Enterprise event, this pilot has proven how worthwhile it will be to do again. We’ve seen students engaging with their work in new ways as they’ve absorbed themselves in the project over the last three days. They’ve clearly enjoyed themselves whilst also pushing themselves academically and practically to take on the challenge and compete with their peers. It was great to see how empowering the technology and insights from the business partners have been for our students.
Chris Penson
Chris PensonPSHCE, Careers, and Critical Thinking Coordinator at The Mandeville School (2018)
I was really impressed... The level of creativity and flair was really clear; not least the amount of technical ability that they demonstrated in a different context to that they would normally get in school. The whole thing about raising cultural capital for them to see a bigger picture to see the link between what they are doing and business application has been invaluable.
Roger Burman
Roger BurmanPrincipal at Aylesbury Vale Academy (2019)
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Become a Sponsor

Interested in becoming a Project Sponsor and helping us to change young lives & futures, please contact us for a converstaion.
Contact Us Here