Work Experience 2024

Digital Catapult is the UK’s leading advanced digital technology innovation centre, accelerating the adoption of new and emerging technologies to drive regional, national and international growth for UK businesses across the economy. We work with a range of organisations - including start-ups and scaleups, established businesses, investors, government and public sector, research and academia - to discover new ways of solving industry challenges, increase productivity and open up new markets. We work across key technology areas including IoT, AI, 5G, Immersive and Distributed Ledger.

At Digital Catapult we are proud to be building an open, diverse and agile community. We are committed to the continual progression of equality, diversity and inclusion within the workplace, in our teams and through the work we deliver. To ensure we deliver on this promise we have ongoing work streams in place to continue on our journey and our established partnership with Inclusive Employers further reflects our commitment.

We recognise and value the advantages and opportunities that come with having people from diverse backgrounds working with us and it is our ambition to build an organisation which is representative and reflective of UK society. We believe equality, diversity and inclusion are key to creating an enjoyable and positive company culture and ultimately to the overall success of our business and of others with whom we work.

Our company values are ambition, curiosity, openness and optimism. The value openness allows our employees to be themselves and demonstrates the importance of respecting each other. Our brilliant people ambitiously strive to inspire, drive and deliver positive change in the sectors and technology areas we work in, both across the UK and globally.

What to expect

Supported by experienced and enthusiastic managers, you will be shadowing colleagues and encouraged to ask questions to help you understand more about Digital Catapult and the tech industry. During the work experience, you will learn what it is like to work in one of our business functions, such as 5G, IoT (Internet of Things), Solutions, Immersive Technology, Design, and Programme Delivery Assurance (Project Management). You will be asked which team you would like experience in based on your areas of interest.

You will get to know Digital Catapult – our values, our history and exactly what we do – and gain an insight into actual jobs that you would be doing if you came to work for us full-time.

Whether you decide to start an apprenticeship, a traineeship or go to university in the future, your work experience placement is a great early insight into a potential career choice.

Learning, development and support

Our programme will provide you with an insight into what it is like to work for a technology company and help you to decide your future career options.

Over the course of the placement, we typically offer:

• Hands on work experience including demos, workshops and a group project
• Opportunities to develop skills and grow confidence
• Opportunities to meet a range of DC employees and ask as many questions as you want to help you understand what working for DC is like and your potential future ambitions
• Join internal events where appropriate

• Aged 18 and under in academic years 11 or 12, in full-time secondary, sixth form or college education and considering technology/computer science as a career after school.
• Be keen and motivated to find out more about Digital Catapult and to be prepared to complete the application process, which will include an online statement and if successful, an informal, telephone call with representatives from your chosen area of interest and the People Team.
• The placement will be in person, at the London office (Kings Cross), to ensure you get the most out of the experience.
  Placements will be assigned based on area of interest, but you will get experience of different functions through a variety of workshops.
• Placements will run from 22nd – 26th July for one week, Monday – Friday, 9.30am-5pm, subject to your availability and the team’s availability.
• We have 10 placements only so we would encourage you to submit an application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

How to apply

Please apply via a written statement of intent/motivation. Please note you must obtain approval from your school or college to undertake this work experience as it falls within the standard school/college term-time. An email from the school will be sufficient. Please attach this to your application.

Once applications are received and reviewed, the People Team will be in touch to organise an informal, telephone call.

Deadline for applications: 26th April 2024, 5.30pm

We believe equity, diversity and inclusion are key to creating an enjoyable and positive company culture and, ultimately, to the overall success of our business and of others with whom we work. Should you require any reasonable adjustments to be made during our application / interview processes or should you require any facilities to be made available to you, please don't hesitate to let us know in advance.

If you have any questions relating to this our recruitment process in general, please get in touch by emailing recruitment@digicatapult.org.uk