Here in Sheffield, we have two thriving University Technical Colleges, both with programmes relevant to the digital industries. UTC City Centre covers Creative and Digital Media, whilst UTC Olympic Legacy Park covers Computing. Between them, they have students learning about everything from design, animation and games development to robotics, Internet of Things and big data.
Engagement with employers is central to the ethos of UTCs and both are very keen to encourage more interaction between students and the city’s digital businesses. Sharing your knowledge and experience not only helps students with their studies, it also increases their understanding of what people in our industry actually do, and the breadth of opportunity available on their doorstep. At the same time, you get to work with talented and enthusiastic young people and track their progress into potential superstars.
There are four key ways to get involved:
- Provide a project for students to work on.
- Offer a visit to your business.
- Take part in an employer mentoring day.
- Visit one of the student showcases.
There’s more information on all of these options in the Skills section of this website, for both UTC City Centre and UTC Olympic Legacy Park, including details of the curriculum areas, dates for mentoring sessions and showcases and who to get in touch with.