Digital Futures: 50 Hours Work Experience Programme
Building Inclusive Pathways into the Digital Economy
The Digital Futures 50 Hours Work Experience Programme is an innovative, nationally scalable initiative designed to address systemic barriers to digital work experience and progression. Created and led by We Job Box, the programme supports disadvantaged young people aged 13–25, including those who are NEET or digitally excluded, to access meaningful digital skills, employer exposure, and future career pathways.
Developed in response to persistent gaps in access, confidence, and opportunity, Digital Futures offers a CPD-accredited alternative to traditional work experience—one that is inclusive, safe, and aligned with the realities of today’s digital economy.
Programme Leadership & Governance
We Job Box is the programme’s originator and lead delivery organisation, responsible for:
Programme design and curriculum development
Employer engagement and live project delivery
Safeguarding, GDPR compliance, and learner wellbeing
End-to-end learner experience and progression support
Aston University provides independent governance, academic oversight, and evaluation, ensuring quality assurance, rigour, and robust evidence of impact.
The programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) through the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund and will be delivered between November 2025 and March 2026, with final evaluation completed in April 2026.
The Digital Futures Model
Digital Futures is delivered across 50 structured hours, combining face-to-face learning with a secure virtual campus to remove financial, geographic, and logistical barriers to participation.
To ensure full inclusion and safeguarding, all participants receive:
Configured laptops and accessibility tools
Hospitality during in-person sessions
Wraparound pastoral and technical support
A fully compliant safeguarding and GDPR framework
Age-Appropriate Pathways
The programme is delivered through three tailored pathways to meet learners at different stages of their journey:
Discover (Ages 13–16)
Early exposure to digital tools, confidence building, and career awareness.
Prepare (Ages 16–18)
Development of digital fluency, employability skills, and readiness for work or further study.
Launch (Ages 19–23)
Re-engagement of NEET young people, leadership development, and progression into employment, training, or entrepreneurship.
What Learners Experience
Across all pathways, participants benefit from:
Hands-on digital skills training
(Microsoft 365, Canva, AI tools)
AI and media literacy modules
Live employer-set projects across five key industry sectors
Career coaching and confidence building
Verified CPD portfolios and structured progression planning
Evaluation, Impact & Legacy
Programme impact is independently evaluated by Aston University using:
Pre- and post-programme surveys
Reflective learning logs
CPD completion and portfolio outputs
Progression tracking and employer feedback
Beyond completion, long-term outcomes are supported through the Fast Track Futures Club—an alumni network offering mentoring, employer connections, and ongoing development opportunities to ensure sustained progression.
