We're excited to be kicking off the first sessions of the pilot Tech Boss Challenge programme, developed by Kagool in partnership with Employability UK.

This brand new programme has been developed to inspire young people in our local community. We want to increase awareness about the kinds of career paths and roles out there, and we're getting the students engaged in thinking about their future careers.

For this pilot version of the programme, we have launched an inter-school competition in Coventry, with Ash Green School, Nicholas Chamberlaine School, and Lyng Hall School taking part.

Building employability skills and career aspirations

We've set the Tech Boss Challenge for the students to get them thinking like consultants. Based on a case study we've created, the school groups will have the opportunity to solve our client's problem with whatever innovative technology and business solutions they can come up with, just like the consultants at Kagool do every day. Each student is encouraged to take the challenge in whichever direction they wish, following their own passions and interests.

The aim of this programme is to increase awareness of the roles and career paths available in the tech industry, and to raise the confidence and aspirations of students.

While may seem like a daunting step for many Year 12 students at this stage in their lives, it's important for them to start building up those life skills that will make them more employable. These skills include everything from organisation and time management to having the confidence required for speaking up in a team meeting. We hope this programme will also encourage them to explore their career options.

Mentors from Kagool

A team of volunteers from Kagool are acting as mentors for the students. We have a range of people from all different backgrounds and career paths, including both technical and non-technical job roles. From people in Marketing to HR, from Analytics to Data Engineering, the students have access to a range of expertise, not only to support them with the Tech Boss Challenge, but also to guide and mentor them with any career questions they may have.

As well as providing expertise and encouragement for the students, this mentoring aspect of the programme has given the volunteers from Kagool a great way to give back to the community. The first sessions were a really enjoyable experience, and we're excited to get to know the students better and see their growth from now until our presentation and celebration event, which will be held at Kagool's Coventry office.