TechFirst
We are pleased to announce that the Alliance for Data Science Professionals has been appointed as the TechFirst AI Pathway Lead by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to help shape the future of the UK’s flagship TechFirst programme.
What is TechFirst?
TechFirst is the UK government’s flagship tech skills programme, led by DCMS. Delivered in partnership with the digital and tech sector, it opens up routes into the UK’s fast-growing tech sector, with a focus on local impact across every region and devolved nation of the UK.
The programme helps young people build practical skills, gain confidence with AI and explore future careers in tech, from school through to apprenticeships, scholarships and doctoral study.
The Alliance is a voluntary member of the TechFirst Community, in the role of AI Pathway Lead.
Our role as the AI Pathway Lead
- Champion
- Champion support for the TechFirst programme across the AI sector.
- Advise
- Provide sector-led advice to help ensure the programme’s quality, credibility and relevance to employers.
- Convene
- Bring together key organisations in our sector so the programme keeps pace with changing skills and recruitment demands.
“As Chair of the Alliance, I see this as a great opportunity to bring together the expertise of our member organisations across mathematics, statistics, operational research, computing, measurement science, and AI.
Developing the UK’s AI capability is not just about technical skills. It is also about professional standards, ethical practice and giving people the judgement and confidence to apply those skills responsibly.
TechFirst gives us an opportunity to bring that collective professional perspective to the development of future skills pathways, connecting education, employers and professional practice.
I look forward to working with colleagues across the Alliance and beyond.”
Help shape TechFirst
If your organisation works in AI or data science and would like to contribute a sector perspective to TechFirst, we would like to hear from you.