BAE's digital skills programme to support thousands of Lancashire young people

BAE Systems has invested £300,000 in a new digital skills programme which will reach as many as 7,5000 young people in Lancashire.

The programme has been created in collaboration with Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Create Education and InnovateHer to inspire young people about digital and tech careers.

Seventy schools across the region will benefit from online classes, access to 3D printers and practical training in an effort to help build Lancashire's future digital workforce.

The move follows research undertaken by the LEP which shows that there is a demand from employers for digital and tech skills, and that this is projected to increase significantly over the coming years across all sectors. The research also reveals that fewer than one in six of the Lancashire digital workforce is female and that the sector is solely made up of employees aged 25 and over.

The programmes will seek to inspire young people aged 12 – 16, with InnovateHer focusing on female and non-binary students to highlight the breadth of digital and tech career opportunities available to them. 

Create Education will bring cutting-edge technologies into an educational setting, providing the resources and training to empower 100 teachers to deliver classes in 3D printing

Jenny Manning, additive manufacturing lead in BAE Systems’ Air Sector (pictured), said: “The long-term impact of the pandemic on young people is far reaching and as a large employer in Lancashire, we have a role to play in inspiring future generations about the multiple pathways into technology and engineering professions, particularly as these skills become increasingly important as we work towards a greener and more sustainable economy.

"This funding is part of the company’s long-term commitment to deliver high value training, support and careers that are accessible to young people from diverse backgrounds in the region.”

Debbie Francis, chair of Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with BAE Systems, CREATE Education and InnovateHer to work together through the Lancashire Careers Hub with schools to inspire young people about the plethora of digital and tech careers currently in demand and forecast to grow in Lancashire.

"Together, we are committed to building our future digital and tech workforce which will accelerate industrial digitalisation and support the drive towards a net zero economy across the area."

The launch of the projects coincides with Lancashire Innovation Week, which acts as a virtual showcase of some of Lancashire’s latest innovations in a series of web-based events.

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