Westminster City Council has launched the Tech Lions programme, to enable young residents to train in tech skills and work alongside leading tech companies.
The Tech Lions programme will support a diverse group of young people making their first step onto the career ladder, by giving them the foundational skills and experiences they need to succeed as tech leaders of the future. Not only will participants learn and earn, they will also build their network and join Multiverse’s global community of more than 5000 apprentices.
The scheme will also support Westminster City Council’s mission to be at the cutting edge of digital, innovation and data transformation, by bringing talented young people into the workforce and giving them the training to make a real impact on the lives of local people.
The programme is exclusively for residents of Westminster aged 18-24. During the programme, participants will receive training in one of three fast-growing areas: Software Engineering, Data Analytics or Digital Marketing.
They will apply those skills by working across various divisions in the council: giving them the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of fellow residents, while practicing their skills and supporting their colleagues.
As well as world-class training delivered by Multiverse, Tech Lions participants will have the opportunity to spend a day at a leading tech company like Microsoft, or even be seconded to work at a top company like Unilever, Fujitsu or Multiverse. On top of that, they’ll receive one-to-one coaching from experts, and mentoring sessions with industry leaders from organisations like Salesforce, Amazon and the NHS.
Applications for Tech Lions are open now. The initial pilot phase will see 9 successful candidates recruited onto the programme, with more to follow.
Opportunities for young Londoners
Euan Blair, Founder and CEO of Multiverse, said: "London's recovery from the pandemic really rests on two key things: making sure there are enough opportunities for young Londoners, and making sure they have the right skillset to grab those opportunities.
“The Tech Lions initiative from Westminster City Council is achieving both of those crucial objectives - not only creating incredible jobs for young residents, but also giving them world-class training, access to mentoring and coaching, and connections to some of the most exciting tech companies on the planet. I can't wait to see this programme continue to develop and evolve."
Cllr Swaddle, Cabinet Member for Finance and Smart City at Westminster City Council said: “We’re delighted to launch the Tech Lions programme in partnership with Multiverse. Technological skills are the future of work and it’s brilliant that we will be equipping young Westminster residents to become leaders in this space. I’m really looking forward to seeing the programme progress and learning of the innovative skills that the participants will be acquiring to both support their personal careers long-term and also Westminster’s ambition to become a truly Smart City”.
Aruj Haider, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer atWestminster City Council, said: “We are very excited to be launching The Tech Lions programme which is our flagship initiative in Westminster. This unique programme is very close to my heart as it looks at nurturing our homegrown talent by making it easier for them to enter the tech sector by arming them with the right skills and connecting them to great work experience with our innovative technology partners. I can’t wait to see our Tech Lions discover their passion for technology and bring innovation to the council.”
Steve Barr, Industry Digital Lead at Microsoft said: “We are thrilled to support Westminster on this great initiative to drive digital skills to empower Westminster residents to gain meaningful and fulfilling careers that are going to be so important in London’s recovery over the next few years. Digital is now at the heart of everyday life and Microsoft has been working with Westminster City Council over the last few months to put together a wide ranging digital skills programme that not only provides courses and certifications but also connects residents to employers who are looking for those skills. The programme also helps in preparing residents for interviews (including online ones), CV preparation, soft skills and many other relevant skills.”
Applications are now open:
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Image courtesy Jose L. Marin
