Visa has joined the Digital Futures Programme as a School Partner at UTC Reading, supporting the next generation of digital talent through meaningful employer engagement and industry-led learning opportunities.
Developed by Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) in collaboration with leading industry organisations, the Digital Futures Programme equips students with the skills, knowledge and experiences needed to prepare for careers in the digital industries, including digital infrastructure and technology sectors. The programme embeds employers into school life through activities such as projects, masterclasses, challenge days, employability workshops and work placements.
UTC Reading is one of four University Technical Colleges (UTCs) within ALET. UTCs are STEM-focused schools and sixth forms for students aged 14-19 who have an interest in subjects such as engineering, computer science and technology. They combine academic learning with employer engagement, giving students direct exposure to industry and helping them develop career-ready skills.
The UK continues to face a significant shortage of digitally skilled professionals, making collaboration between industry and education more important than ever. Through the Digital Futures Programme, students gain first-hand exposure to real-world business challenges and industry expertise, enabling them to better understand the opportunities available within the technology sector.
As a UTC Partner, Visa colleagues will work directly with students at UTC Reading, helping to bring learning to life through industry-led activities and providing valuable insight into careers within one of the world’s leading digital companies.
Today, the Digital Futures Programme is supported by a growing network of industry-leading employer partners. Visa joins a network of Trust and School Partners including AWS, CBRE, ARK Data Centres, CNet Training, DataX Connect, Yondr Group, VIRTUS Data Centres, LMG and CyrusOne, all working together to help address the UK’s digital skills gap and inspire the future workforce.
Collectively, the programme’s employer partners contribute more than 8,600 hours of employee engagement each year, supporting curriculum delivery, employability skills development, mentoring and careers education for students across Activate Learning Education Trust’s UTCs.
Mark Revell, Director, Global Data Centre Engineering & Operations at Visa, said:
“Visa is proud to support the Digital Futures Programme and invest in the future of our industry. We are passionate about helping young people discover the opportunities that exist across technology and digital infrastructure, including the often unseen but essential world of Data Centres. By working directly with students, we hope to inspire curiosity, build confidence and help create a strong pipeline of diverse talent for the future.”
Wayne Edwards, Executive Director for School Improvement at ALET, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Visa to a growing community of employer partners that includes some of the world’s leading digital infrastructure and technology organisations. Together, our partners are helping to create a blueprint for how industry and education can work together to address skills shortages while creating meaningful opportunities for young people.”
Jennie Thomson, Headteacher at UTC Reading, said:
“One of the things that makes UTC Reading different is the opportunity for students to learn alongside industry. We’re excited to welcome Visa and look forward to the experiences and insights their colleagues will bring, helping our students build confidence and understand the many pathways available within the digital sector.”
The Digital Futures Programme has become an award-winning model for employer engagement, creating a blueprint that can be applied across other sectors. Through long-term partnerships with leading organisations, students benefit from real-world learning experiences while employers are able to help shape and develop the future talent pipeline. The programme operates across all four UTCs within the Trust (UTC Reading, UTC Oxfordshire, UTC Swindon, UTC Heathrow), providing over 1,000 students with access to employer-led learning and career development opportunities.
Read more about our programme here.
