One day each year, we have the opportunity to change the lives of thousands of British children, improve the digital economy and create growth in the sector. This year, that day is 13th November. The event, Digital Day.
We pair digital and tech agencies with local secondary schools for a day of informative, engaging and inspirational talks and challenges. The day is low in stress for both agencies and teachers, as we prepare the resources to help students understand the digital industry.
Our society is becoming increasingly reliant on the digital industry, with a current estimated shortfall of 40,000 people. Young people need to be aware of their opportunities – especially those in lower income areas, young women and minorities. In these sessions we can show young people their future options, and dispel myths around the industry.
2 out of 3 winners for @BIMADDay #digitalday17 were girls schools.
In fact the all girl school entries this year were outstanding in numbers and top quality.
That #gendergap in tech could well be on the close! 😉— Amanda Follit (@DigitalFollit) February 6, 2018
What do schools get out of it?
A day of vital information that costs nothing but could mean everything to the students. As well as fulfilling the Gatsby Benchmark criteria for independent career guidance and meaningful encounters with employees, our challenges encourage them to think widely about problems facing the world today.
An honour for computer science teacher @CompSci_Ada as students name their @BIMADDay project after her! TINA: teaching interactive network assistance #ImaginationLabs pic.twitter.com/KvoIUc2hRR
— Ada. National College for Digital Skills (@AdaCollege) November 14, 2017
Other than the warm fuzzies of inspiring the next generation of digital workers, it’s a way of giving young people better chances than many current professionals had growing up. Agencies can have a hand in shaping the destiny of students, and may even see potential future employees among the class.
Maybe everything. Not every student will go onto a digital career, but with more awareness comes more opportunity. Last year, we saw that many students saw the digital industry as creative, innovative, and an opportunity to solve new problems. Already in their spare time students are using the internet to research gaming, new technologies, language, history, music and space – the interest is there, we just need to nurture it.
The highlight was seeing some groups work on their challenges through their break, because they wanted to! Also one student chose to do an additional challenge on his own, alongside the group effort!
— Hayden Evans (@itsH) November 15, 2017
How can you get involved?
If you’re a teacher or an agency who thinks they’d like to be involved, you can find out more without signing up, and if you think you could help us to spread the word we would love to hear from you! To find out more visit Digital Day 2018 web page or contact Alise Vilsone, BIMA Events Manager.