Why stories matter in opening up technology careers
This year's Social Mobility Day theme, Stories Matter, recognises a simple but important truth: the stories people hear shape what they believe is possible for their future.
When it comes to technology careers, that matters more than ever.
As demand for digital and AI skills continues to grow, employers need talent from every background. Yet many people still do not see technology careers as accessible to them. Without visible pathways, relatable role models and opportunities to build confidence, talented individuals can be discouraged from exploring careers in the sector.
At QA, we work with charities, schools, community organisations and employers to help address this challenge. Through programmes including Teach the Nation (TTN), Tech4Futures and EduQAte, we support learners from a wide range of backgrounds to develop digital skills, explore technology careers and access pathways into further learning, apprenticeships and employment.
In FY24-25, these programmes reached thousands of learners across the UK. Many participants came from some of the country's most disadvantaged communities, with 33% living in areas within the lowest three Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) deciles and 52% identifying as ethnic minorities.
For Jo Bishenden, Chief Learning Officer at QA, social mobility is about more than creating opportunities. It is about ensuring people can see those opportunities and believe they are within reach. Through partnerships with schools, charities and community organisations, QA helps people build the skills, confidence and connections needed to take their next step into digital careers.
The importance of visibility is reflected in the experiences of learners themselves.
Natasha recently took part in an AI skills workshop delivered through QA's social value partnerships. Before attending, she had never considered a future in technology because she saw the sector as being "too advanced".
Following the workshop, Natasha said she felt more confident using AI tools and had gained practical skills she could apply in the future. Her experience highlights how exposure to new technologies, combined with accessible learning opportunities, can help break down perceptions about who technology is for.
Stories like Natasha's demonstrate why social mobility is not simply about opening doors. It is about helping people recognise that those doors exist and that they are welcome to walk through them.
This work is only possible through collaboration. QA partners with organisations including Generation UK, Resurgo, Speakers for Schools, Coding Black Females, Black Apprentice Network, Job Centre Plus, Ark Schools and the London Digital Jobs & Skills Hub to provide practical learning opportunities and exposure to technology careers.
These partnerships are helping more people develop the skills needed for the modern workforce while creating pathways into sectors that continue to experience significant skills shortages.
As technology continues to transform the economy, widening access to digital and AI careers is not only a social mobility imperative but an economic one. By making opportunities more visible, sharing real stories and creating accessible routes into learning and employment, we can help ensure that the future of technology is open to everyone.
