Comments by Suzie Bell, Programme Manager at Ahead Partnership
That’s a wrap on another busy and brilliant Leeds Digital Festival! High on the agenda this year was social value, ESG and diversity which is excellent to see as someone dedicated to connecting young people to opportunity in the sector through my work at Ahead Partnership.
There have been so many brilliant events at this year’s festival but a key theme that stood out to me was the value of diversity of thought that comes with increasing diversity in the sector. When we have diverse voices, thought and opinions adding to the conversation, we can create better digital solutions that meet more people’s needs.
This is particularly salient in the discussion of AI. Carole Roberts, Director of Data at Leeds Building Society said something that I’ve not been able to get out of my head since the Women in Tech Breakfast at Accenture: “Gender diversity neutralises bias”. With AI a hot discussion point once again, as humans it’s our diversity in all its forms that is our biggest asset and can help shape more inclusive and representative technology, which in turn helps shape a more inclusive society.
This is something that I am passionate about and why my work at Ahead Partnership leading our Growing Talent Digital Leeds programme is so meaningful to me. Through the programme, we partner with digital and tech employers in the city to inspire and educate young people from all backgrounds to help shape a more diverse talent pipeline for the industry. These young people have brilliant ideas, unique perspectives and enthusiasm that the industry can’t afford to miss out on. That’s why varied routes into the industry and hands-on experience through T-Levels and apprenticeships, for example, is so important.
It has been so refreshing to hear so many businesses and individuals echo these same thoughts. On the Leeds Trinity University panel that I contributed to, hosted by Hippo: From Buzz Words to Best Practice: Why social value is a 2024 business essential – Leeds Digital Festival, we got into some brilliant real-life examples of T-Level students and apprentices adding value in their teams by bringing a fresh perspective and contributing to live projects. We also heard how mentoring and coaching young people within the business brings out the best in the team, as team members exemplify best practice which in turn produces higher standards of work.
All in all it’s been another brilliant year bringing together the best of the city’s digital and tech professionals and I’ve come away with more actionable insights and a renewed sense of passion for the work we do through Growing Talent Digital Leeds, ready for the academic year to begin in earnest.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can support Growing Talent Digital Leeds through sponsorship or volunteering, please visit: Ahead Partnership | Growing Talent Digital Leeds