Improving Access to Data Careers for Young People

Aim: We want to expand our youth digital skills training programmes to include Data Analytics

Who are WYK Digital

They say to get ahead in life it's all about who you know. We're working to change that, which is why we're called WYK (It's What You Know.)

WYK is a non-profit social enterprise set up with a goal to improve access to digital careers for young people from under-served and under-represented backgrounds. 

Over the last 3 years we have supported over 500 young people with our free to access, 11 week skills programmes that we are commissioned to deliver by the Prince's Trust and UK Government.

In 2024 we'd like to expand our offer to enable young people to land jobs in other areas of the digital economy.

How we'll use the funding

In 2024 we want to create a brand new course to support even more young people in new areas of the digital economy. So far our work has focussed on digital marketing. We want to take our proven delivery model and apply it to a new programme focussing on Data Analytics. This process requires us to hire experts in these fields to develop these new syllabuses.

There is a shortage of qualified entry level talent across many areas of the digital economy. We want to help motivated young people realise their potential while supporting businesses at the same time.

This crowdfunding campaign will allow us to fully develop this new syllabus. Our commissioners, The Prince's Trust, Department for Education and the Greater London Authority will then pay us to deliver these courses to more young people who need our support in launching successful careers.

Why this is important

Times have never been tougher for young people looking to get ahead. Research has shown that people from ethnically diverse backgrounds are facing a greater risk from the cost of living crisis. UK Parliamentary Research shows that you are 2.5 X more likely to be unemployed as an ethnic minority in the UK in 2023 versus those from white British backgrounds.

WYK enables our trainees to gain access to permanent work which pays at least the London Living Wage and has huge career growth potential. 

Our courses

Our innovative delivery method and course structure has proven that anyone with the right attitude, coaching and support can launch a successful digital career - regardless of background, education or experience.

We've helped to place young people into over 100 different employers by giving our trainees the skills, confidence and hands on experience needed to hit the ground running. Employers such as Google, WPP and Omnicom (some of the worlds largest media advertising agencies) hire our graduates because our training is completed to the highest standards.

Our learner demographics

• 78% of trainees are from minority communities
• 48% do not have a university degree
• Over 65% of trainees are female or non-binary
• Over 70% are on Universal Credit
• Around 20% have disclosed further support needs such as Dyslexia

We anticipate that if you were to buy a similar course to WYK on the open market it would cost over £5,000 (our course has over 110 hours of live tuition).

Our impact

On average 70% of our trainees land permanent full time work in the digital sector. This is a career space that offers fantastic career prospects. The UK government estimates the digital sector to be worth £151 billion to the economy. Enabling access to this sector means our trainees can take part in the digital economy, help close the skills gap and provide employers with up-skilled motivated candidates.

Thank you

From the WYK team, from our trainees (WYKers) and from our wider community.

This project successfully funded on 20th December 2023