IN4 launches new skills programme into Blackburn and Darwen schools

By Tim Aldred

22 Jul 2024

IN4 Blackburn MEGA

Blackburn with Darwen Council is partnering with IN4 to establish a new programme that will nurture over 600 pupils and mentor 50 scholarship students each year across the borough to secure the best digital technology careers.

Every secondary school in the borough is able to take part in the pioneering technology educational enrichment and scholarships programme.

‘MEGA (motivated, educated generation with ambition) Hub’ builds on the success of IN4’s major North West and West Midlands CyberFirst contracts with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ. 

Blackburn with Darwen Council, IN4 Group and its partners IBM, Northrop Grumman, KPMG UK, QinetiQ, CGI, Roke, and BT are committing more than £300,000 per annum into the MEGA Hub, with a plan to increase the investment in the coming years.

Mo Isap, IN4 Group CEO, said: "It’s a moment of great pride that I have the ability to further invest in my hometown, specifically to support our talented young people who have the potential to be great but due to disadvantage, deprivation and discrimination end up being average at best. 

“We grew up not knowing we had started life in the second-class carriage. My aim is to ensure all our young people belong in the first-class carriage of the technology express, which will take them to incredible destinations and, in doing so, make our borough great again in the 4th Industrial Revolution as it was in the 1st one.   

“This will lay the foundations for the MEGA Hub model as we aim to nurture and unlock talent in our local authority regions through collaboration and co-investment across public and private sector partnerships.”

The CyberFirst and MEGA Hub programmes link closely to the government’s investment of more than £5bn in its new National Cyber Force in neighbouring Samlesbury and will help meet the need for a highly skilled digital workforce in the emerging North West Cyber Corridor.

Coun Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “As a council, we are absolutely committed to the notion that no one in our borough should be left behind, and this is a shining example of that.

“We are determined to inspire our young people – we want to show them the opportunities that are available and make sure they have the skills to give them the very best chance to succeed in life.

“We want to help open their eyes to the different careers available in digital and technology, especially with the re-location of the National Cyber Force to Salmesbury.

“The CyberFirst programme has already seen incredible results, and we’re really pleased to have been able to work closely with Mo and his fantastic team to bring this first-of-its-kind pilot to Blackburn with Darwen with investment for businesses to follow, too."

The MEGA hub incorporates a KS3 and KS4 technology enrichment programme that operates as an extension to the school timetable. The programme combines CyberFirst, Esports Academy, Play AI, and IBM Skills Build with hackathons, competitions, entrepreneurship, and tech careers education. 

 

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

University recognises adidas curator Gary Aspden

University recognises adidas curator

11 Jul 2025

2

Investment drives growth plan at CoolKit Coolkit Vans

Investment drives growth plan at CoolKit

11 Jul 2025

3

Story Homes submits plans for 140 new homes in Longton Story Homes plans

Story Homes submits plans for 140 new homes in Longton

11 Jul 2025

4

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey Happy students at ULAN

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey

10 Jul 2025

5

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15 Forbes Solicitors promotions

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15

10 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College University Courses Building, Burnley, BB12 0AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin