Empower
- Years 7 to 9
- Once a year, Gloucestershire
Run a hands-on activity for Year 7 to 9 students, including girls-only and SEND sessions. A great way to reach groups who are under-represented in tech.
Inspire the next generation of tech talent
One hour of your expertise can change how a young person sees their future and open doors into technology they never knew existed.
A national programme, powered by people like you
TechFirst is the UK Government's flagship tech skills programme, giving young people the chance to build digital skills, get confident with them and explore careers in tech.
1 million
young people the programme is reaching across the UK
7 partners
delivering across the South West, led by techSPARK
1 hour
can change how a young person sees their future
For industry and researchers
It is employers, professionals and researchers who bring it to life. Your career story, your workplace and your real-world challenges show young people what a future in technology actually looks like.
The impact you can have
One session can be the moment a young person decides technology is for them. The benefit comes full circle, to your organisation and the region.
For young people and the region
- Inspiring future talent
- Helping young people discover career pathways
- Supporting regional skills development
- Creating meaningful community impact
For your organisation
- Building your future talent pipeline
- Strengthening industry–education connections
- Developing your team's communication and leadership skills
- Supporting social value and corporate social responsibility objectives
Evidence your social value commitment
Social value carries real weight in public contracts and bid responses. Volunteering with TechFirst gives you something concrete to point to: activity, with the numbers behind it.
Your people give the time
Talks, workshops, workplace visits, work experience and mentoring, chosen around what your team can realistically commit to.
We keep the record
The TechFirst team logs the hours, the activities and the young people reached, so nobody on your side has to chase the detail.
Ready when you need it
Use that record in tenders, bid responses, annual reports and social value statements.
How to get involved
Choose the commitment that suits you, from a single session, multiple sessions to a longer period or a strategic partnership.
A single session
Delivering workshops
Run a hands-on session in a school or at an event.
Careers talks
Share your journey and what your job is really like.
Workplace visits
Open your doors so students can see technology in action.
Supporting events
Staff a stand, judge a competition or run a demo.
Industry challenges
Set a real-world problem for students to solve.
Over a longer period
Mentoring
Support a student or small group over time.
Work experience
Offer placements that give a real taste of the industry.
Volunteering
Give a few hours to support activities across the region.
Sponsorship
Help fund activities or prizes. Further details to follow.
We make it easy to take part
Your registration, your checks and the coordination of every activity are all handled for you, so you can focus on inspiring young people.
Become a TechFirst Ambassador
Inspire young people through technology. Build your skills and network, with a commitment that suits you.
The TechFirst Ambassador network
Registration is free and runs through the STEM Ambassador programme, delivered locally by consortium partner Graphic Science. Ambassadors are covered by STEM Ambassador insurance at all STEM events.
Free DBS check and training
TechFirst events don't require a DBS check, but schools prefer volunteers to have one. Ambassadors get a free DBS check.
Impact data for employers
Employers can sign a data sharing agreement with STEM Learning to see their staff's volunteering and download impact reports for CSR and social value.
We coordinate every visit
The TechFirst team matches you with schools and colleges, schedules activities around your availability and supports you on the day.
New to volunteering
- 1. Register at stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors and create your profile.
- 2. Under ‘Scheme participation’, add yourself to TechFirst South West.
- 3. Complete the short online induction, including child safeguarding.
- 4. Apply for your free DBS check online, with a digital ID check.
Already a STEM Ambassador
- 1. Log in at account.stem.org.uk and open ‘Ambassadors’.
- 2. Go to your Profile, choose ‘Edit Profile’, then the ‘Employers and Schemes’ tab.
- 3. Under ‘Scheme participation’, choose TechFirst South West and tick to share your details with the local team.
- 4. Click ‘Save’ at the top right.
Registration and volunteering questions: techfirst@graphicscience.co.uk
Activities you can support
These are the main activities across the South West. Pick one that suits your time and team, and we’ll handle the rest.
Hands-on days
Run a stand or activity at a day full of curious students.
Horizons
- Years 7 to 11
- Once a year, across the South West
Show students what your work looks like through a hands-on activity, pitched at their stage: choosing options or planning next steps.
Meet people in tech
Share your story, host students or mentor young people.
Checkpoint
- Students who attended Empower or Horizons
- A few online sessions a year
Give a short online talk to students who have already been to one of our hands-on days.
Ignite
- Years 10 to 13
- One week a year, across the South West
Host students for one day of a shared work experience week. We handle the planning, so you just focus on the day.
Tech Lectures
- Years 12 and 13
- Once a year, across the South West
Experts and researchers can help shape or deliver a lecture on a big topic in new technology.
Launchpad
- Years 10 to 13
- Three webinars, winter and spring
Put forward your apprentices or scholarship students to share their story online.
Switchboard
- Schools, colleges and employers
- Available all year
Post placements, visits or tasks on an online noticeboard for schools. Offer as much or as little as suits you.
I’m a Computer Scientist
- Students aged 8 to 18
- Available all year
Answer school students’ questions in moderated, 30-minute typed Q&A sessions, from anywhere with an internet connection. No preparation, planning or travel, and you choose when you are available. Over 800 volunteers took part in more than 1,000 sessions with around 25,000 students last school year.
STEM professionals: sign up to take partFounders’ Forge SW
- Years 10 to 13, small groups
- Available all year
Founders can mentor a student who is building their own product.
Support for teachers
Help teachers bring real industry examples into lessons.
Circuit
- Teachers of Years 7 to 11
- Available all year
Help shape lesson plans and resources that teachers use with their classes.
Fusion
- Computing teachers
- Once a year
Host a computing teacher for a day, then spend half a day in their school.
Connect
- Teachers
- Once a term, online
Join a teacher meetup to share what is happening in your sector.
Ecosystem Conference
- Teachers, employers and outreach providers
- Twice a year
Meet teachers from across the region and tell them about your offer.
Where you could help next
No events are listed right now. New events will appear here once confirmed.
Not sure where to start?
Talk to us and we'll help you find the best way to engage.