Joining the TechFirst community
How to support the government’s flagship tech skills programme opening pathways into the UK’s fast-growing tech sector.
The TechFirst community brings together employers, education providers and other organisations working to open up careers in technology.
Demand for digital and technology skills is growing across the economy. But for many people, especially young people, the first step into a tech career is the hardest. Opportunities to gain experience, start an apprenticeship or secure an entry-level role can be difficult to find. Employers have a central role in changing this.
By joining the TechFirst community, your organisation can:
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support the TechFirst programme, helping young people and students build their skills, confidence and connections
-
commit to the Digital and Tech Skills Deal, opening more first steps into digital and technology careers
You can do one or both.
Join the TechFirst community now to play your part in this mission.
Who can join
You can join the TechFirst community if your organisation:
- employs digital and technology talent, in any sector, or directly supports talent development
- supports the aims of TechFirst
- can contribute volunteering time, sector expertise, placement and work experience opportunities, or sponsorship
We want organisations of all sizes to take part. What you offer can reflect your resources, expertise and local priorities.
Support the TechFirst programme
Your organisation could:
- offer summer placements to TechFirst scholarship students
- provide work experience for young people in your area
- volunteer at schools, careers events or skills sessions
- sponsor local or national TechFirst activities
- promote TechFirst through your sector, region, networks and communications channels
All support for TechFirst programme activities must be provided free of charge.
Make a Skills Deal commitment
We are asking every tech employer to make an ambitious commitment by 2030 to provide one or more of the following:
- digital and technology work experience
- digital T Level industry placements
- digital and technology apprenticeships
- entry-level digital and technology roles (open to applicants with less than one year’s relevant work experience)
Choose the routes that suit your organisation. Commitments should reflect what you can realistically offer and fit your workforce plans. Activity you already deliver counts towards your commitment.
Employers making a commitment will be asked to publish a short update on their progress each year.
Joining the TechFirst community
There are 2 ways to join the TechFirst community.
TechFirst Members
Membership is open to all eligible organisations. It is flexible, so you can choose how you contribute, whether that is supporting TechFirst activities, making a Skills Deal commitment or both.
TechFirst Partners
Partner status is for organisations making a substantial commitment, relative to their size, across both the TechFirst programme and the Digital and Tech Skills Deal. This could include placements, apprenticeships, entry-level roles, volunteering and sponsorship.
How to join
Complete the community sign-up form to tell us how your organisation can support aspiring tech talent. The TechFirst team will contact you to progress your membership and advise on the best way to get involved.
Read the privacy notice to find out how we process your personal data.
TechFirst Partners
- Arm
- Cisco
- Cognizant
- IBM
- Microsoft
TechFirst Members
Current Members include:
- 2T Security
- Abertay University
- Accenture
- Actica Consulting
- Airbus
- AND Digital
- Aston Centre for Cyber Security Innovation
- Bangor University
- BT
- ByteTrust
- CDS Defence & Security
- Claranet
- CoreTech Security Services
- Cortida
- Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Department of Finance (Northern Ireland)
- Digital Skills Consulting
- Foundry Zero
- Gemba Advantage
- Glasgow Clyde College
- Guardiam
- HM Government Communications Centre
- HM Revenue and Customs
- Immersive
- Interrupt Labs
- Made Tech
- Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of Justice
- National Cyber Security Centre
- Northrop Grumman
- PentenAmio
- Phoenix Software
- Reversec
- Roke
- Sapphire Technologies
- Thales
- Ultra Cyber
- University of Greenwich
- Zaizi
About TechFirst
TechFirst is the government’s flagship tech skills programme opening pathways into the UK’s fast-growing tech sector.