The Project
The Tech Frontier is project designed to strengthen the South West’s Tech ecosystem by creating a more inclusive talent pipeline. The project focuses on tackling social mobility challenges and ensuring that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have access to high-quality tech experiences and career pathways.
Aims of the project
The South West is the lowest-performing region in England for social mobility, with only 17% of disadvantaged young people progressing to higher-level qualifications compared to 45% in London. At the same time, the UK is the third-largest tech market globally, and the South West plays a crucial role in this sector. However, Tech companies in the region face a major barrier to growth: finding the right talent. By addressing these challenges, Tech Frontier aims to unlock untapped potential and create a diverse, vibrant workforce for the future.
What does it involve?
Tech Frontier provides a portfolio of activities from years 9 -13:
- Tech Workshops (Years 9–10) – Tech Cornwall
Innovative, two-hour workshops tailored to each year group for up to 30 students, targeted at schools in areas of rurality and disadvantage. These workshops introduce students to cutting-edge tech concepts such as embedded technology & web development. - Whole day Digital Entrepreneurship Masterclasses – Evo Agency
Whole day Digital Entrepreneurship masterclasses designed to mirror the entrepreneurial journey from product innovation to digital marketing and e-commerce while giving students hands-on experience with creativity, AI tools, branding, and pitching. - Tech Work Experience (Year 10) – Tech Cornwall
Regional one-week work experience schemes (Exeter & Plymouth & North Devon) for around 30 students in each area, offering hands-on projects in software development and network engineering. Solving problems through tech around the following scenarios:
Mission to Mars: Coding a Mars rover to navigate a simulated Martian landscape.
Remote Disaster Network: Designing resilient communication systems for disaster zones. - Alumni Network – (Years 12 & 13) – Zero Gravity
Providing Post 16 Students free & unlimited access to Zero Gravity’s Tech platform that propels low-opportunity talent into universities and careers. Student can access mentoring from Tech employers including Spotify & Snapchat, masterclasses, scholarship, personalised career opportunities along with access to a digital community of over 25,000 students.
Our Partners
We work with the following organisations to deliver these experiences:
Tech Cornwall
Inspiring the next generation through hands-on tech projects and industry engagement.
Evo Agency
Providing advanced digital training and real-world project experience.
Zero Gravity
Supporting unrecognized talent into top universities and careers through an online community of business alumni providing mentoring, networking and workshops.
Participating schools
- Dawlish School
- Newton Abbot College
- Axe Valley
- St Lukes CoE
- Cranbrook
- The Spires College
- South Devon UTC
- Atlantic Academy
- All Saints Academy
- Sir John Hunt
- Tor Bridge High
- Plymouth UTC
- Paignton Academy
- Teignmouth School
- Brixham College
- Bideford College