London, 11th June 2020 – A project has been launched to train, support and showcase young talent at secondary school, closing the knowledge gap surrounding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of work and society.

The programme is founded by Katie King - published Author and CEO of AI in Business, and Digital Transformation EXPO - the independent guide, helping companies to devise their technology strategy. The programme will support schools with six expert sessions delivered by leading academics and organisations including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, The Alan Turing Institute and PwC. During the social distancing period, these sessions are being delivered virtually. The students will also be given the valuable opportunity to access mentors to support their future careers.

In this pilot programme, a group of students from St Gregory’s Catholic school, a mixed, all ability, secondary school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and its partner school, St Simon Stock, in Maidstone, will participate. The initial group comprises a range of students from various year groups, including those studying business, finance and IT, and is being made fully inclusive, with deaf pupils.

The project is supported by Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark, who is Chair of Science & Technology Select Committee. He explains: “Programmes like this are incredibly important to help accelerate young people’s careers, giving them skills and training which they may not have had access to previously. It’s excellent to see a Kent school being so proactive – especially during lockdown. In addition, projects like this help support the UK’s rapidly growing AI business sector, ensuring that the UK remains a leader in AI in the future.”

Many of the students who take part in the programme will also have the opportunity to attend the Digital Transformation EXPO on 30th September – 1st October 2020. The students will gain even greater access to leading expertise as the event features an impressive line-up of leading speakers, alongside companies like Google. Four lucky students will also enter the Leaders of Tomorrow in Tech Awards, with the winner receiving two hours of mentoring from leading industry judges including Lord Clement-Jones, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence.

Business and Finance Teacher Terry King, who is leading the project for the schools, comments: “These are challenging times for employment opportunities and university places. Projects supported by companies like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and PwC - who are leading the way in technology - can only enhance a student’s prospects for the future.”

Project co-founder Harry Chapman, who is Group Content Director, Digital Transformation EXPO, says: “We’re pleased to be working on this very important initiative to develop young talent in the tech sector. This is one of the many ways we want to give back to the industry, alongside our extensive diversity and charity programmes. It also fulfils a need of many of the companies we work with – getting access to new talent.”

Project co-founder Katie King, who is CEO of AI in Business, explains: “These students are the future workforce. Some will choose data science, others may opt for a career in the law, marketing or football. Whatever path they select, one thing is certain: AI will change the nature of all tasks in the future, so they need to be fully prepared. This project is an essential collaboration between schools and businesses to close a very real gap which currently exists. It’s an exciting opportunity for the students taking part, and we intend to roll it out more widely in phase two, with schools globally already asking to participate.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About Digital Transformation EXPO:

Digital Transformation EXPO (DTX) is the UK’s most current and relevant showcase of ‘must have’ technology solutions (featuring the world’s leading brands). DTX unlocks the power of technology for IT and business leaders, from businesses of all sizes, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, increase security, introduce smarter collaboration and make faster, better-informed business decisions.

For enquiries, please contact Andrew Cleary, Head of Marketing: [email protected]

Digital Transformation Expo – https://dt-x.io/europe/

About AI in Business

The team at AI in Business is helping organisations globally to harness AI and data analytics for business growth, efficiently and safely.

As a subsidiary of Zoodikers Consulting Ltd, we've spent over 10 years at the cutting edge of digital transformation. We've also invested a year researching how businesses apply AI, learning from their mistakes and successes, resulting in Katie’s book which was published in 2019: https://www.aiinbusiness.co.uk/book

Most importantly, we are playing a key role in advising Government on how AI should be adopted in enterprise. Our work spans a wide range of services, from consultancy and workshops to delivering Keynote and motivational speeches. We help clients to stay current, to stay ahead, to innovate, and to achieve their business goals.

For enquiries, please contact Katie King, CEO: [email protected] Mobile – +44 (0)7525 727288 https://www.aiinbusiness.co.uk/