In the spotlight: Partnership helps schoolgirls develop digital skills

Background

Encouraging more girls to consider careers in technology starts long before they enter the workforce. For ten Year 7 pupils at Fairfield High School in Tameside, Greater Manchester, a programme delivered through a Home Office technology contract provided an opportunity to explore what working in the sector might involve.

The initiative was developed by Phoenix Software in partnership with the Home Office, Microsoft and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation as part of Phoenix’s contractual social value commitments.

Running between February and April 2026, the programme combined practical digital skills training with mentoring, confidence-building activities and opportunities to meet technology professionals.

The ten participants were nominated by their teachers and selected for their potential, despite having limited previous exposure to technology careers or female role models working in the industry.

Challenge

The Home Office wanted to demonstrate how the social value commitments attached to its technology contracts could deliver benefits beyond the services being procured.

For Phoenix and its partners, the challenge was to create a programme that would introduce young people to technology careers while addressing some of the barriers that might discourage them from considering opportunities in the sector.

The participating pupils had limited exposure to technology careers and female technology leaders. The programme therefore needed to do more than teach coding skills. It aimed to develop confidence, communication and public-speaking abilities, while introducing the girls to the range of technical and non-technical roles available across the technology industry.

Solution

Phoenix worked with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Microsoft and the Home Office to design and deliver a four-week digital skills programme centred on app development.

The pupils worked in teams to design and build their own app concepts using App Lab, supported by weekly mentoring sessions delivered by Phoenix specialists.

Alongside coding and app design, the programme included workshops covering communication, presentation skills and self-confidence. Each participant also worked towards a Level 1 Open College Network accreditation in Self-Confidence, providing a recognised qualification alongside their practical technology experience.

The programme culminated in a showcase event at Microsoft’s Manchester office, where the pupils presented their app ideas to representatives from Phoenix, Microsoft, the Home Office and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.

The event also gave the pupils an opportunity to experience a technology workplace and meet professionals from across the industry. Activities included AI debates, Microsoft Copilot demonstrations, laptop repair workshops, career insight sessions and speed networking. Female technology professionals also shared their experiences of working in the sector.

These activities were designed to demonstrate the breadth of career opportunities available in technology while giving participants practical experience of working collaboratively, developing ideas and presenting their work.

Results

According to Phoenix, feedback from the pupils was overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting benefits in communication, confidence and interpersonal skills.

“It was really good and it helped me develop my communication and people skills,” said one participant.

The programme also introduced the pupils to coding, app development and emerging technologies, giving them experience of developing their own digital products.

The showcase event provided an opportunity to practise public speaking, present their work and meet female role models working in the industry.

“It was very fun to work with people from different tech companies!” said another participant.

For the Home Office and Phoenix, the programme provided an example of how social value commitments within a public sector technology contract can be translated into practical community activities.

Next steps

Phoenix said it intends to continue delivering social value initiatives through its customer partnerships, including further opportunities to engage young people, strengthen digital skills and support groups under-represented in technology careers.