Young people in the Solent region are expanding and developing their technology skills thanks to our new Enterprise Days programme in partnership with Portsmouth based software developer company Radweb Ltd.
The programme is designed to inspire young people to consider careers in technology and website development whilst also developing their entrepreneurial skills and ambitions.
As part of the roll-out, a series of technology-focused Enterprise Days are taking place in primary schools across the region, with the aim of opening their pupil’s eyes to potential careers in the sector.
Each event tasks the young people to design a technological solution to a local problem that they care about. They then work with the Unloc team to develop a concept, design a prototype and then present their ideas to an expert panel, including members of the Radweb team.
The programme is helping to address the root causes of the UK’s technology skills shortage early on. Youth Employment UK estimates that hi-tech roles such as software programmers and developers have increased by 72% since 2011, but there simply aren’t enough suitably skilled young people to fill all those roles.
The European Commission has suggested that the European economy is short of 900,000 ICT professionals already.
As well as addressing careers in technology, the project aims to develop participants’ confidence, problem-solving, communication and entrepreneurial skills, encouraged by the experts from Radweb Ltd and Unloc.
The programme has already been making a significant impact, with initial events at Mayville High School and Northern Parade Junior School.
Radweb Managing Director, Steve Rad, commented:
“We are extremely honoured and proud to be working on programmes that have a direct influence and impact on children’s education, helping to inspire them to consider a career path in technology.
We have been working with the team at Unloc for many years on various projects and as a Portsmouth based company, we have been equally inspired by the students and teachers involved in the Enterprise Days programme and see these initiatives as our way to give something back to this great city”.
Hayden Taylor, Managing Director of Unloc, said
“Working with Radweb in the past, we know what a brilliantly talented team of designers, programmers and marketing experts they are, and to partner with them to deliver this important programme to schools ensures that the young people attending have the very best support.”
“Our Enterprise Day programme addresses a crucial talent shortage in the region, and the skills and abilities they develop during these events can make a lasting impact upon the young people attending, one which may influence their future career choices, and open up a world of possibilities to them”.
About Radweb Ltd
Radweb was founded in 2007 by Steve Rad and James Taylor, both of whom graduated from the University of Portsmouth with degrees in Digital Media Marketing and Computer Science and a passion for all things technical.
Over the year’s the business has developed into a team of 28 passionate, qualified specialists, from designers to programmers to marketing experts and sales. Radweb are experts in finding creative solutions for interactive website applications, real estate software, eCommerce and digital marketing.
About Unloc
Unloc was founded in 2013 by award-winning young leaders and advocates Hayden
Taylor and Ben Dowling. Our mission is to empower young people to be innovative changemakers who seek to build stronger communities and sustainable businesses.
We develop young people’s skills, enhance their potential and boost their determination to succeed. This is encapsulated in our Developing Young Potential tagline. We work towards our mission by delivering inspiring educational programmes in our growing network of schools and colleges. In the 2018-19 academic year, Unloc’s programme reach increased by over 40% on the previous year to 10,910 young people.
