Sky, Burberry, Glean and xDesign have joined a new Leeds partnership to “inspire and inform” the next generation of tech talent.
Leeds Unleashed has been established by xDesign and Leeds City Council, following a recent survey which found that young people in the area thought tech companies could do much more to engage and nurture their aspirations.
“The so-called ‘digital skills gap’ is something we’ve been aware of for a long time thanks to a growing body of research and regular media reporting,” stated Matt Ward, xDesign’s Head of Leeds.
“With the support of Leeds City Council, we’re going to be offering this unique opportunity to school, college and university students – along with career changers – in the wider Leeds area. We want to support all of these groups in discovering how they could one day shape Leeds’ already thriving tech sector.”
Leeds Unleashed will take place on May 5th with events to give people “unprecedented access” to employers and learn about the latest tech being used by them.
“Technology is a core pillar of Burberry’s international operations – particularly as global fashion markets get increasingly complex and competitive. Along with the initiative’s other partners, we know that Leeds has a vast wealth of untapped talent yet to be unleashed. As a result, we’re giving the city’s curious minds the opportunity to learn about our tech; engage face-to-face with our technologists and other specialists, and fully immerse themselves in the inclusive and diverse culture we’ve built here,” added Jonathan Sheldrake, VP, IT – Infrastructure & Services at Burberry.
“For Burberry, Leeds Unleashed represents a real opportunity to invest in the future of the Leeds community we serve and operate from, while giving us the potential to futureproof our business. As a partnership, it’s vital that we empower the next wave of tech talent today, so that they can breathe new life and ideas into our businesses tomorrow.”
