Ten thousand work experience placements in digital and technology will open to young people over the next three years, backed by some of Britain's biggest tech employers. The places are part of the Government's Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan, published on 21 October 2026.

Employers backing the drive include Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Cognizant, AtkinsRéalis, Arm, Kainos and QinetiQ. The placements are aimed at young people looking for their first job.

Placements, not guaranteed jobs

The 10,000 places are work experience, not permanent jobs, and the announcement is clear that they are only the starting point. Separately, the plan sets a target for employers to collectively create or fill 20,000 entry-level tech roles each year, and the Government is calling on more employers to sign up as Skills Deal partners.

Skills England estimates that 800,000 digital and tech roles will need filling by 2035, which is why the plan also reaches into schools. The TechFirst programme is now open to all secondary schools, with an ambition to reach one million students by 2028, including 400,000 from the most disadvantaged schools.

What young people get

Secondary students will receive workshops, skills sessions, career talks, workplace experiences, tech clubs and competitions, plus access to the Ada Computer Science learning platform. A TechFirst Women's Programme will also support 300 women with mentoring, skills development and matching with live vacancies, aiming to secure paid roles lasting at least six months by March 2027.

The Prime Minister has separately called on employers to provide a further 200,000 work experience placements for 14 to 16-year-olds. Young people interested in the tech placements should watch the TechFirst programme and the employers named above, as places will be offered through them rather than through a single national application form.