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Category: Partnerships

Career Development with the Digital Futures Programme

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

The transition from education to the workplace can be a daunting one, but hands-on experiences and industry connections can make all the difference. As part of the Digital Futures Programme, students from four University Technical Colleges (UTCs) recently took part in career development days with employers from 10+ data centre companies.

These events were designed to equip students with essential career skills, boost their confidence, and introduce them to the wide range of opportunities available in the digital and data centre sectors.

We were delighted to attend these events, supporting students as mock interviewers and delivering a CV and Personal Branding workshop.

Hands-on career preparation

Throughout the events, students took part in interactive sessions designed to develop key employability skills and prepare them for their future careers. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including: 

  • Mock interviews 
  • LinkedIn  
  • Personal branding 
  • Apprenticeships  
  • Communication skills 
  • CV skills  
  • Entrepreneurship 
  • University pathways 
  • Alumni networking 
  • Public speaking  
  • Team-building  

By rotating through these sessions, students gained exposure to multiple aspects of career preparation. Each activity provided practical skills and real-world insights, giving students a strong foundation to build on as they move into further education, apprenticeships, or employment. 

DataX Connect and the DFP

Stepping into the interview room

As part of their rotations, students attended mock interview sessions. Here, students had the opportunity to practise their interview skills with industry professionals in a real-world setting. 

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but preparation and practice can make all the difference. The goals of these sessions were to: 

  • Build students’ confidence in speaking with employers. 
  • Provide practical experience to prepare for real interviews.
  • Offer constructive feedback to help students improve. 
  • Encourage students to think critically about their skills and strengths. 

Each 30-minute interview included real-time feedback from employers, giving students a chance to reflect on their answers and ask questions about the interview process. 

Students were asked a range of common interview questions to help them articulate their skills, experiences, and ambitions, including: 

  • Tell me about yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses. 
  • Can you give an example of when you showcased teamwork? Leadership? Good organisation? 
  • What do you enjoy most about your education? 
  • What extracurricular activities or achievements are you most proud of? 
  • Where do you see yourself in one, five, or ten years? 

By working through these questions in a supportive environment, students developed well-structured answers and gained confidence in their ability to sell themselves to future employers. 

Real world impact

The mock interviews provided students with invaluable practice and personalised feedback, helping them refine their communication skills and professional approach. 

One student shared: 

“I would recommend these sessions to other people as it gives you a good idea of interviews, apprenticeships, and the importance of LinkedIn.” 

Another said: 

“It was a very informative day and helped with understanding more about apprenticeships and how to present yourself in the world of work.” 

Engagement was exceptionally high with many students saying they now feel more prepared for their future job applications. Several also noted that the sessions helped them identify both strengths and areas for improvement, giving them a clearer sense of direction. 

Read more about the Digital Futures Programme

Collaboration that drives change

Bridging the gap between education and the world of work isn’t always easy, but having industry support makes a huge difference. Events like these give students the chance to meet professionals, ask questions, and get a real feel for what working life is like.

Partners of the Digital Futures Programme include:

The Digital Futures Programme is all about helping young people feel ready for what comes next. By bringing together students, employers, and educators, it’s giving the next generation the skills and confidence to take their first steps into the digital industry. 

We’re really proud to be part of this and can’t wait for the next event!  

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CV Writing and Interview Skills with Ark Data Centres at The Bicester School

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

On 17th October, we had the pleasure of co-hosting a Digital Futures workshop at The Bicester School with ARK Data Centres. Together, we ran sessions for Year 12 on CV writing and interview techniques.

The aim of the day was to give the students confidence that they could succeed in getting a job if they applied tomorrow, while also having a brief introduction to the world of data centres. 

bicester school

Who are ARK Data Centres? 

Ark Data Centres is a UK-based company specialising in secure and sustainable data centre solutions. Founded in 2005, Ark provides data centre services to government and enterprise clients, focusing on energy efficiency, resilience, and security.  

Ark’s mission is to empower businesses to work from anywhere in the world by designing and operating data centres which lead the market in social responsibility: “Our pioneering facilities leverage 100% renewable energy, optimum security, high availability and offer world-class sustainable scalability.”  earn a significant prize – a trip to Kenya to implement their solution. 

Why did Ark get involved in the Digital Futures Programme? 

“The data centre sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the World, underpinning the whole of the digital economy and all of its many applications from global transactions, every aspect of telecommunications and the internet in its entirety. And the industry is set for continued growth. There has been more data created in the last three years than in the whole of previous human history, according to recent research. 

The data centre sector relies on many skilled technicians,  from engineers to designers, all of whom are in very short supply in a rapidly growing and competitive market. Ark Data Centres, along with other data centre providers, recognise that we have a role in supporting the development of future engineers to keep up with demand. ALET are able to fuel the enthusiasm of young minds and deliver the education that supports the need for new talent, our partners in securing our own and the sector’s future.” 

Allan Bosley, Head of Culture at Ark Data Centres 

The workshop 

This two-hour workshop was designed to give students practical, actionable advice on how they could best prepare for their next job opportunity. With a focus on CVs and interviews, the students were engaged with quizzes, interview role plays, and short tasks to ensure they made the most of their session. 

CV writing 

The first part of the workshop focused on CV writing. The students were given two versions of the same CV were and asked to decide which one they thought was better. They were then asked to give reasons for their answer, and suggest improvements to the exemplary CV. 

The students were able to identify mistakes and formatting errors in the poor CV, in addition to an unprofessional email address, lack of detail in personal statement, and use of informal language. 

The students were also given an example of a poor CV and asked to annotate mistakes made, spotting errors like a vague address, unprofessional font, confusing layout, and irrelevant hobbies and interests. 

This section of the workshop concluded with the students writing their own checklists of what to include in their CV. 

Judit: “I don’t have a CV yet, so I got lots of ideas on what to put in one and how to lay it out.” 

Maja: “Very useful information on how to structure a CV – and how to prepare for an interview and behave in it. It definitely makes me feel more confident.” 

bicester school

Interview tips and techniques 

The latter section of the workshop focused on giving students the tools needed to ace a job interview. This section began with a quiz, over which the students got very competitive! Did you know that only 2% of candidates that apply for a job get an interview, and that it only takes 30 seconds for an interviewer to form a first impression? 

Following the quiz, the students were asked to brainstorm interview preparation for the month and day before the interview, before practising their handshakes with each other. 

Most crucially in this section of the workshop, students learnt how to answer interview questions in a complete yet concise way with the STAR technique – Situation, Task, Action, Result.  

This technique gives students a framework for answering difficult, open-ended questions such as:  

“Tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership skills?”  

One example answer to this question using the technique would be:  

“I was working on a challenge day project brief, and one member of the team was not contributing (Situation). I needed to work in the team to develop my solution, ready to present back later in the day. The task was to Design a Data Centre (Task). As the project manager of the group, I took the opportunity to find out the students’ strengths and assign them a role that they could complete (Action). We were able to work effectively as a team and meet the deadline given by the employers. We were the winning team in our classroom (Result).” 

After practicing their own STAR answers, the students then interviewed each other and assessed their answers. 

To conclude the workshop, students shared some of their own career ambitions, in addition to what they learnt from the sessions.  Some of the career ambitions included investment banker, historian, air hostess, teacher, and barrister. 

Jess: “It’s been good, especially around what questions you should ask in an interview.” 

Emma: “I didn’t really know what was involved in an interview before, so it makes me feel more prepared.” 

Read more about other Digital Futures events at UTCs across the UK

UTC Reading Bridge-Building Challenge 

UTC Heathrow Sustainability Challenge Day  

UTC Oxfordshire Data Centre Challenge Day

We thoroughly enjoyed working with Ark Data Centres to deliver this workshop and are proud of the impact it will have on the Year 12 students at The Bicester School.  

Learn more about the Digital Futures Programme 

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Empowering Future Engineers: UTC Reading’s Community Project Day 

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

We recently had the opportunity to volunteer as mentors at UTC Reading’s Community Project Day. Partnering with the Amuka Foundation, the event challenged students to develop real-world solutions to improve infrastructure and education at Loruko Primary School, a rural school in Kenya facing significant challenges. 

Alongside other mentors from companies like AWS, Mott McDonald, and Atkins Realis, we worked with teams of students tasked with tackling one of four critical issues facing Loruko Primary School: 

  • Access to clean water 
  • Security 
  • Energy 
  • Education 

Each team were tasked with developing a solution to one of these challenges and had to present back at the end of the day. 

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The challenges 

The issues facing Loruko Primary School are significant. The school has: 

  • No running water, relying solely on rainwater harvesting, which is often disrupted by migrating elephants stealing from the tanks. 
  • No electricity, with outdated solar technology that is no longer functional. 
  • Poor security, leaving the school vulnerable to theft and vandalism. 
  • Limited educational resources, with overcrowded classrooms and a lack of basic materials like desks, books, and even sanitary facilities. 

Hearing about the school’s struggles reminded us of the importance of this challenge—not just as a learning experience for the students, but as an opportunity to make a tangible difference in a community in need. In fact, the winning team would earn a significant prize – a trip to Kenya to implement their solution. 

Guiding the next generation 

One of the most rewarding parts of the day was seeing the students’ creativity come to life. Early on, we saw teams brainstorming a wide range of innovative solutions: 

  • For security, some students suggested building perimeter fences or using natural deterrents like chilli or pollen to keep elephants away from the school. 
  • For energy, we saw ideas for installing solar panels on rooftops and exploring wind turbines as a renewable energy source. 
  • For water access, one team proposed burying water tanks underground to prevent theft and evaporation, while another explored the feasibility of digging wells. 
  • For education, students envisioned creating interactive learning spaces and integrating sustainable practices into the curriculum to benefit both students and the wider community. 

As one mentor, Harry Chandler, from AWS said: 

“I was so impressed by the students at UTC Reading—the detailed thought processes they go through and the way they think things through from finances and resources to design.” 

Sarah Tennant from JLL added: 

“When I was observing the students, I was really impressed with their diversity of thinking and the wide range of ideas they were coming up with. Everyone had different ideas, and the way they put them together was impressive.” 

Read more about other Digital Futures events at UTCs across the UK

UTC Reading Bridge-Building Challenge 

UTC Heathrow Sustainability Challenge Day  

UTC Oxfordshire Data Centre Challenge Day

Presenting the solutions 

After a day of brainstorming, planning, and refining their ideas, the students presented their solutions to us and their teachers. Each team explained how their project addressed a specific challenge, with a focus on sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and community impact. 

As judges, we evaluated the presentations based on creativity, feasibility, alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and potential to make a lasting difference for the Loruko community. The level of thought and detail the students put into their projects was truly inspiring, and we’re excited to find out which team will be flying to Kenya. 

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A lasting impact 

At the end of the day, one team from each classroom was shortlisted to present their solution to the founder of the Amuka Foundation. The winning team will have the incredible opportunity to travel to Kenya and implement their project at Loruko Primary School. 

For us, the day was a powerful reminder of the impact that mentorship and STEM education can have on young minds. We left UTC Reading inspired by the students’ passion, creativity, and dedication to solving real-world problems. 

We’re proud to have been part of this initiative and look forward to seeing how these talented students continue to grow and make a difference in the world. 

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Mentoring Tomorrow’s Data Centre Talent: Digital Futures Programme at UTC Oxfordshire

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

Recently, we had the privilege of participating in a Digital Futures Programme Challenge Day at UTC Oxfordshire, where Year 10 and Year 12 students took on the ambitious task of designing a fully operational data centre.  

The event, led by CBRE and supported by industry partners like Cyrus One, LMG, and ARK, provided students with a unique, hands-on introduction to the world of digital infrastructure. 

digital futures programme with cbre at utc oxfordshire

A day of innovation and teamwork

The challenge for the students was straightforward but did have some complexities that they needed to consider: build a data centre that could meet the demands of our ever-growing digital world.

From streaming services to online banking, data centres power our daily lives—and the students were tasked with designing centres that could address critical factors like location, energy efficiency, cost, environmental impact, and security. 

Our role was to mentor the students, challenging them to think outside the box. Each mentor was assigned to a classroom, where we worked closely with small teams of students throughout the day. 

Early ideas and creative thinking

It didn’t take long for the students to dive into brainstorming. After assigning a Project Manager and other job roles within the groups, early discussions revealed a wide range of creative and thoughtful ideas from some of the Year 10s (14/15 years old): 

Location

  • Underground facilities to manage cooling naturally 
  • Mountainside data centres for stability and temperature control
  • Expanding into regions like Canada, Sweden, South Africa, and even more unexpected locations like Algeria  

Power sources 

  • Harnessing water and solar power to create sustainable energy solutions 
  • Exploring innovative renewable sources to ensure the data centres are both eco-friendly and cost-effective 

Cost

  • Required job roles and their respective salaries 
  • Materials and equipment required for the project 

One group of students even suggested building a data centre on the moon—a bold and imaginative idea that sparked conversations about the future of technology and space-based infrastructure. 

Read more about other Digital Futures events at UTCs across the UK

UTC Reading Bridge-Building Challenge 

UTC Heathrow Sustainability Challenge Day  

Guiding future engineers

Throughout the day, we were impressed by the students’ ability to approach the challenge from multiple angles, blending skills from various disciplines such as architecture, geography, and finance.  

Natasha Hogan, Head of Marketing at LMG, captured the essence of the day perfectly: 

“I was impressed with the total mix of skills shown by the students at UTC Oxfordshire. Some students had more of an architecture focus, others showed skills in geography or finance, and they were able to identify appropriate roles in their team. They approached the problem creatively and thought in detail about the issues at hand, including talent, sustainability, ethics, and cost.” 

Paul Murley, an Engineering Supervisor from CBRE, added: 

“The students have come up with so many interesting ideas. I was able to walk through all of the project rooms and get a great feel for the wide variety of data centre designs produced by the students, who were thinking in detail about fire systems, security, and locations.

It was a really enjoyable day and was great to see so many young people actively engaging in the task. It was a pleasure to help them and I’m looking forward to seeing some of them hopefully join the rapidly growing world of data centres.”

digital futures programme with cbre at utc oxfordshire

From concept to presentation

By the afternoon, the students had turned their ideas into tangible designs. Some teams built physical models using cardboard, while others created digital models using CAD software. Each group presented their project, explaining their design choices and how their data centre would address key considerations such as: 

  • Location: Proximity to renewable energy sources and cooler climates to reduce cooling costs 
  • Infrastructure: Number of servers, cabinets, and rooms required for scalability 
  • Cost: Total build and operational expenses, including energy consumption and maintenance 
  • Environmental impact: How the data centre would affect the local community and environment 
  • Materials: Sustainable building materials to minimize environmental footprint 
  • Security: Strategies for both physical and cybersecurity to protect the data and infrastructure 

Celebrating success

One of the highlights of the day was seeing the students present their projects with confidence and enthusiasm. After careful deliberation, we were thrilled to announce the winning team. Congratulations to Laura, Vanessa, and Amalia! 

This all-female Year 12 team stood out for their exceptional teamwork, innovative design, and thoughtful presentation. Their data centre concept demonstrated a deep understanding of sustainability, infrastructure, and cost-efficiency, and they impressed us with their ability to address the project holistically. 

Inspiring the next generation

This Challenge Day was more than just an exercise in engineering—it was an opportunity to inspire the next generation of data centre professionals. As mentors, we were amazed by the students’ creativity, problem-solving skills, and enthusiasm for tackling real-world challenges. 

This event brought the digital infrastructure industry to life for these students, offering them a glimpse into a field that is essential to our modern world. We left UTC Oxfordshire inspired by their potential and excited to see how these future engineers will shape the industry in the years to come. 

DataX Connect

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Digital Futures Programme hosts Thrilling Sustainability Challenge Day with KAO Data

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

Students at UTC Heathrow were immersed in an exciting and educational day of challenges focused on sustainability in data centres, hosted by KAO Data and supported by VIRTUS, Vertiv, JLL, Cyrus One, LMG, AWS, ARK, and others. The Digital Futures Programme event offered a hands-on, creative exploration of renewable energy, engineering principles, and the importance of sustainability in today’s digital world.

KAO Data at UTC Heathrow for a Digital Futures Programme event

Inspiring the next generation of innovators

Led by KAO Data’s team, including Mike Tamblingson, Chris Small, Lizzy McDowell, and Faisal Akram, the day aimed to educate students about data centres—vital hubs for powering the digital age—and their role in the journey towards a sustainable future. KAO Data, a leader in green energy solutions, operates their centres using 100% renewable energy, making them the perfect hosts for this inspiring event. 

Mike Tamblingson, Operations Director at KAO Data, spoke passionately about the company’s commitment to fostering the next generation of STEM professionals: 

“I am personally very passionate about the next generation. I love working in data centres and wanted to give something back. I’m keen to drive initiatives like this at KAO Data and feel privileged to be part of days like today.” 

A day of engaging challenges

The day began with an introduction to data centres, explaining their crucial role in students’ daily lives and emphasising the need for sustainable solutions. Students then embarked on a series of hands-on activities: 

1. Designing a data centre model

Working in teams, students cut and constructed their own data centre models, carefully considering critical features like security, backup generators, and location. The activity encouraged creative thinking and a deeper understanding of data centre design and functionality. 

2. Building a windmill 

Next, students designed and built windmills in a competitive challenge to generate the highest DC voltage. Using a digital multimeter with a “Peak Hold” feature, teams tested their windmills’ performance. Designs varied widely, showcasing students’ ingenuity and engineering skills. 

3. Constructing a wind-powered car

The final challenge saw students build wind-powered cars, focusing on friction, aerodynamics, and surface area. Cars were tested in front of a fan, with winners judged on distance covered and design innovation. One team’s clever use of a brown paper bag to capture maximum wind earned them the top prize. 

Inspiring conversations and future aspirations 

Throughout the day, students shared their aspirations, with some expressing newfound excitement about data centre careers. One student, already set on becoming a civil engineer, explained how events like this reinforced her decision to leave her mainstream school and join the UTC to complete her GCSEs in more relevant subjects. Others, still exploring their options we inspired by the innovative possibilities in STEM fields. 

Kao Data at UTC Heathrow

Celebrating success

Winners of each activity were rewarded with Amazon vouchers, and all students left with a deeper appreciation for sustainability, technology and a potential career in data centres. Reflecting on the event, KAO Data’s team and supporting partners were thrilled with the enthusiasm and creativity on display. 

A bright future

Events like this exemplify the power of collaboration between industry leaders and education to inspire the next generation of innovators. UTC Heathrow and KAO Data’s partnership has not only highlighted the importance of sustainability in data centres but also ignited a passion for STEM careers among students. 

UTC Heathrow, with its forward-thinking approach to education, continues to be a hub for preparing young minds for the challenges and opportunities of the future. 

DataX Connect

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Increasing Apprenticeship Opportunities in the Data Centre Industry: Our Platinum Membership in The 5% Club

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

The data centre sector is experiencing remarkable growth, fuelled by the ever-increasing demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence. However, this expansion is hindered somewhat by a shortage of talent. The shortage is causing challenges not only for data centre professionals but also for employers and the industry as a whole.

Data is crucial to shaping the future and we need the right talent to tackle humanity’s most complex challenges. We genuinely want to help tackle these challenges by working together with companies and partnerships to highlight the ways they can help as well as coming up with new practical solutions. 

Some of the ways we help data centre companies build a pipeline of future talent directly are: 

  • Leading by example, showing our clients that Platinum membership in the 5% Club is possible as a company in the data centre industry
  • Participating in initiatives such as the Digital Futures Programme, a programme to give 14–19-year-olds exposure to the data centre sector from a young age
  • Showcasing the great work done by other companies in launching their own future talent initiatives, such as The AVK Academy, a new training hub for data centre engineers 
the 5% club platinum award

5% Club Platinum Membership Award

We’re thrilled that we’ve been awarded Platinum accredited membership as part of The 5% Club’s esteemed 2024-25 Employer Audit Scheme. This accolade highlights our unwavering commitment to empowering our employees through “earn and learn” initiatives such as Apprenticeships, Graduate Schemes, and Sponsored Student Placements. 

Achieving Platinum status is something we are very proud of. We have aways been passionate about the importance of continual learning and development. We also want to encourage the businesses we work with the consider investing in the development of the next generation of talent.

By being part of The 5% Club, we proudly stand alongside over 1,100 forward-thinking employers who are dedicated to driving positive change. The 5% Club represents a powerful movement of companies working together to make workplace training more inclusive, diverse, and accessible. Collectively, members support 1.9 million employees, with more than 108,000 individuals participating in “earn and learn” schemes. The Employer Audit rigorously assesses our efforts, future ambitions, and commitment to social mobility, diversity, and inclusion, further strengthening our mission. 

Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club, commented:  

“We are incredibly proud of the outstanding employers, like DataX Connect, who have gone above and beyond to invest in the future of their workforce through a diverse range of ‘earn and learn’ initiatives. Their dedication, especially during these challenging times, deserves to be celebrated. By achieving Platinum membership, DataX Connect has shown an exceptional commitment to shaping the skills of tomorrow, contributing not only to their business but to the wider economy.” 

Gill Cronin, Director of Operations at The 5% Club, added: 

“It is inspiring to witness the dedication and passion our members bring to providing meaningful career development opportunities. DataX Connect’s Platinum membership highlights their leadership in creating impactful learning environments that prioritises inclusion and diversity. As we see 20% of our members reaching these prestigious tiers, it’s a true reflection of how companies like DataX Connect are laying the groundwork for the future talent pipeline.” 

DataX Connect

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An Exciting Training Hub for Data Centre Engineers: The AVK Academy

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

This week, AVK introduced The AVK Academy, a data centre engineer training academy based in Kent.

Read on to find out more about the key features of the academy, why it is so needed, and how to apply if you’re interested.

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data centre engineer training

Who is AVK? 

AVK provides generator and uninterrupted power supply solutions for mission-critical services and systems. “No matter the scale of the project or its complexity, clients rely on us to deliver the best-in-class solutions in the smartest, most sustainable and cost-conscious ways.”  

With 35 years’ experience and more than 240 team members globally, AVK has delivered over 20,000 projects and services helping their clients meet their power demands and sustainability goals. 

Demand for data centre space has been turbocharged in recent years by the rise of artificial intelligence, which demands ever more high-end computers, and ever more electricity to power them.”

What is the AVK Academy? 

The AVK Academy is a dedicated training hub that will play a pivotal role in developing the next generation of data centre engineers. The Academy, located in Kent, will provide comprehensive, hands-on training to data centre professionals. 

Trainees will have access to state-of-the-art technology so that they can “immerse themselves in real-world scenarios ensuring they gain the practical experience required to excel in their careers.” 

Key features of the academy  

  • Hands-on, comprehensive learning 
  • Combination of classroom and practical exercises 
  • Entry point into industry for new talent 
  • Focus on continuous professional development 
  • Data centre engineer training programmes catering to all experience levels 
Read more about the AVK Academy

Why does the industry need data centre engineer training? 

“The AVK Academy is more than just a training facility—it represents a strategic investment in the future of our company and the industry. By nurturing talent within a controlled, supportive environment, we are helping to build a pipeline of skilled professionals who will drive innovation in power generation.  

For AVK, this is crucial as we continue to grow and adapt to the evolving demands of data centres and other critical sectors. Our Academy is not just about training individuals; it is about creating a culture of continuous learning and development that permeates every level of our organisation.” 

The AVK Academy will act as a tool for attracting new talent into the data centre industry and providing professionals with clear career pathways, that’s why we’re supporting the academy here at DataX. 

Listen to Ben Pritchard, CEO AVK-SEG, speak to Andy Davis on the Inside Data Centre Podcast

How to apply to the academy

The AVK Academy has a range of data centre engineer training programmes for every experience level.

To find out more information and to apply to join the academy, you can contact the AVK team at earlycareers@avk-seg.com. Submit a copy of your CV and let them know your area of interest. 

Read more

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Bridge-Building with Yondr: UTC Data Centres Workshop July 2024 

Posted on by Zoe Towlson

On Monday 22nd July, we had the pleasure of attending a workshop at UTC Reading hosted by Yondr Group. The workshop was the fourth run by the hyperscale data centre developer and was a fantastic opportunity for us to watch the Digital Futures Programme in action.

We had the chance to speak to Yondr volunteers about why they got involved in the programme, and to teachers and students about the impact that the programme is having on their education and career plans. One teacher we spoke to said that students who study at a UTC are far more confident with interviews and in workplaces because they get to work with employers regularly while they are studying.  

Contents

What is a UTC?

UTC stands for University Technical College. It’s an innovative approach to learning for 14-19-year-olds that offers specialist programmes alongside traditional subjects. For example, students that we spoke to at UTC Reading study subjects like IT, Engineering, and Computer Science as part of their Yr 10 and Yr 11 curriculum.

Yondr and DataX - Digital Futures Programme

What is the Digital Futures Programme?

“Aimed at 14-19-year-olds, the [Digital Futures] Programme equips students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to thrive in technical careers within the digital infrastructure industry, comprising engineering, the network cabling and data centre sectors and other digital environments. 

It also gives students a real taste of the world of work and helps them develop employability skills in readiness for interviews and entry level roles – and not just in the data centre sector, as the skills they learn are hugely transferable.”

UTC Heathrow

Who is Yondr?

Yondr is a global developer, owner and operator, of hyperscale data centres. They deliver complex data centre capacity needs for the world’s largest tech companies.

Having delivered over 450MW of built capacity, Yondr now have data centre campuses across the globe in North America, EMEA, and APAC.

Yondr Group Digital Futures Programme

Why is Yondr involved in the Digital Futures Programme?

Yondr is one of the co-founders of the Digital Futures Programme. Paul Hood, COO Global Data Center Operations at Yondr said, “We’re really proud of the Digital Futures partnership; I’ve seen first-hand how much of an impact it has in providing the support and skills to young people to help them succeed. We understand the importance of supporting students, often from under-represented backgrounds, into STEM/digital infrastructure careers. It’s important for our business, the industry and for society.”

Programmes like Digital Futures mean that they can inspire children at a young age to access opportunities and get into a career in data centres through different routes. Even if students don’t end up at Yondr, it gets them into the industry.

Yondr Group

The workshop

The day consisted of a presentation followed by a bridge-building activity. Throughout the day, we had the chance to speak to some students who wanted to pursue architecture and were particularly interested in this activity so they could show their passion and skills to Yondr, a potential future employer.

Days like this are important for the data centre sector because they introduce students, like those wanting to study architecture, to new industries. Students that might not have otherwise considered the sector are now aware of the many possibilities within it.

Presentation

The day started with a presentation from Yondr introducing the concept of a data centre. The presentation was done by Vijay Bedarkar, Sustainability and ESG Manager, and the new sponsor for Digital Futures at Yondr. His passion for his role showed through as he launched an interactive task getting students to think about the sustainability of data centres. 

Armed with post-it notes and lots of enthusiasm, the 80+ year 10 students got to work coming up with ideas about the different elements of sustainability, power availability, and cooling needed in every data centre.

Vijay said, “I’ve been passionate about helping young people access employment opportunities for a long time and believe that businesses have a powerful role in creating positive social impact. It’s incredibly rewarding to mentor and coach students from diverse backgrounds, witnessing their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Initiatives like the Digital Futures programme have the potential to inspire greater diversity within the industry and open doors for many.”

Phase one: the task

After the presentation, the students split into teams of four to five and set about examining their task for the day. Each team had to build a freestanding bridge that would hold a 1kg weight and matched certain fixed dimensions to allow an object to pass underneath it.

In addition to the technical requirements, the bridge design also had to be considerate of its surroundings, a rural town, and needed to be costed. Not only did the bridge materials have a monetary cost associated with them, but they also had a carbon cost. Materials like wooden dowels were low monetary cost but high carbon cost, and vice versa for materials like tin foil.

One of the first assignments for each team was to decide on team roles. Some teams were very specific with their roles, designating a Project Manager, Sustainability Manager, Finance Manager, and Designer, while others simply split their team into two: Building and Design.

Phase two: design and construction

Most teams got straight to work designing the bridge. When observing the teams, we saw many unique approaches and creative ideas to tackle the brief.

Some students made paper models to visualise the dimensional requirements for the bridge, while others used the internet to source inspiration photos. Some teams drew scale drawings to ensure that all team members were on the same page. 

DataX Connect join digital futures programme

When it was time to begin constructing, teams could use lollipop sticks, wooden dowels, tape, tin foil, hot glue, and string. Crucially, they had to keep track of all materials used so they could accurately portray their costs in their presentation, including any materials they used in testing the bridge.

Phase three: presentation

Once teams had finished constructing their bridges, they tested them and presented their finished product to the group. The students showed teamwork and communication skills throughout the project, and this was a big factor in how they were scored.

The teams were graded on criteria such as team communication, bridge sustainability, total cost, and design. Ultimately, the most successful teams had strong bridges resulting from good leadership and effort from all team members. 

DataX Connect join the digital futures programme

Upon speaking to students and teachers, we learnt that students really enjoy the practical aspects of workshops like this one with Yondr. In particular, they benefit from working with employers directly from a young age and getting exposure to sectors that they might not have otherwise been exposed to.

The Yondr volunteers also gave the children an opportunity to ask them questions about their jobs and gave life advice. For example, they encouraged the students not to always work with friends for a project, to encourage diversity of thinking. 

It was great to see the Digital Future Programme in action and to see how invaluable partners like Yondr are in helping bringing real-word careers to life. We also saw how different UTC pupils are; a number of year 10 students asked us if we had any internships or took on apprentices.

We’re looking forward to attending more workshops like this one, and to hosting our own next academic year.

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3 responses to “Bridge-Building with Yondr: UTC Data Centres Workshop July 2024 ”

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    100 Private Proxies

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