A group of engineering and digital students from UTC Swindon recently took part in a major industry event at ExCel London, gaining valuable insight into the digital infrastructure sector.
The Year 12 and 13 students attended Data Centre World on 12th and 13th March, where they connected with industry leaders and explored future career opportunities in the rapidly growing sector.
The students are part of the Digital Futures Programme, an innovative education and industry collaboration designed to address the growing skills gap in the UK’s digital infrastructure sector. A recent TechUK report estimates that an additional 60,000 workers will be needed in the sector by 2035.
Despite the growing demand for talent, many people remain unaware of what data centres are or the career opportunities they offer. Data centres are essential facilities that store and manage the data generated in the UK — from smartphone photos to NHS records and financial information. Last year, data centres were officially recognised as part of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure, alongside essential services like energy and water.
Meeting Industry Leaders
The event began with Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK and Chair of the Baker Dearing Trust, opening the ALET UTCs & Partners stand. He addressed the students and industry professionals, highlighting the importance of equipping the next generation with digital skills.
“Today, employers are looking for new skills across the engineering, manufacturing and AI sectors,” he said. “There’s a real need to accelerate digital skills in this country, and engaging with students early helps employers identify exactly what training is required for future roles.”
To secure their place at the event, the students had to submit a 500-word personal statement explaining their interest in attending and complete a CNet Training data centre fundamentals course. Those selected arrived at Data Centre World with three main goals: to network with industry professionals, discover career opportunities, and understand how their classroom learning applies to real-world situations.
Hands-On Learning
Working alongside industry mentors from the Digital Futures Programme, the students were tasked with finding out about three companies at the exhibition and identifying how one of those companies applies their knowledge in practice — for example, using sustainable energy to cool data racks.
Ross McConnell from Yondr Group, one of the mentors, explained the importance of events like this for both students and employers.
“Today is about demystifying data centres and the value they bring,” he said. “The students have seen that there are so many different roles — from cyber security to energy and sustainability — that they can aspire to.”
For most students, this was their first experience at an event of this scale. Beyond gaining technical knowledge, they developed essential soft skills such as confidence in speaking to exhibitors, professionalism when working alongside mentors, and even navigating London’s transport system.
Shaping the Future of the Industry
On the second day, the students attended a panel session organised by ALET, where representatives from Ark, Digital Realty, CBRE and LMG spoke about the Digital Futures Programme and how it is helping to close the skills gap in the sector.
The Digital Futures Programme was launched in November 2021 at UTC Heathrow and has since expanded to all ALET University Technical Colleges, benefiting around 1,100 students aged 14 to 19. Developed with leading digital infrastructure employers — including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Ark Data Centres, CBRE, and Vertiv — the programme integrates real-world technical training into the curriculum. Students participate in masterclasses, challenge days and industry placements to gain the skills and experience needed to succeed in the industry.
With the first graduates already securing apprenticeships and the programme winning multiple awards — including Best Talent Developer at Data Centre World for two consecutive years — the future looks bright for the next generation of digital talent.
To find out more about the Digital Futures Programme, visit www.alet.org.uk/our-employer-partners/digital-futures-programme.
