Why the digital sector went back to school for the day
We’ve just wrapped up our sixth Digital Day at BIMA. Thousands of students and more than 150 schools were paired with digital and tech agencies across the UK.
Theo Blackwell attends the Bima D-Day proceedings in London
For many of the young people taking part, they are leaving school today with their first glimpse into a digital industry they previously didn’t know existed.
For anyone involved in the day, from students and teachers to agencies and our challenge partners - Vodafone, BBC Studios and the FA – you can’t fail to see the difference Digital Day makes. This is the day we see lightbulbs flicker on. The day students make the connection between the apps and tech and social media they use every day, and their future success. The day ‘I don’t know what I want to do when I leave school’ becomes ‘I’m thinking of maybe doing something in digital’.
Of course, lighting the fire is one thing. Keeping it ablaze needs rather more. That’s why this correlation between awareness and intent to pursue a digital career should be on the minds of everyone who’s in a position to influence outcomes for young people. You can say that’s the job of the educators, but at a time when some schools are struggling to buy textbooks, the onus is also on us as an industry to take control of developing our own future talent.
That’s why it matters that so many digital professionals took part again this year. Like us, they know that our industry needs fresh ideas, skills and talent from our graduates and apprentices. And you can’t get any of those unless our young people are inspired early, and exposed to what the digital industry is, what it does, and where it can take you.
So thank you to everyone who took part in Digital Day 2018. You have made a bigger difference than you can possibly know. And here’s the proof:
Excited to be taking part in #DigitalDay18. Year 9 @TBHAcademy students enjoyed a fascinating insight into the world of digital marketing from @talktotommy today. Looking forward to seeing their ideas for the challenges pic.twitter.com/IsGoNvp6iz
— TBHAcareers (@TBHAcareers) November 13, 2018
Digital Day 2018 is underway!! @BellshillA S5 Pupils are looking forward to a great day with @equatoragency !!⌨️ #DigitalDay18 pic.twitter.com/hzGZMbwN5W
— Bellshill Academy Art and Design Dept (@dept_art) November 13, 2018
After a great set of pitches and very heated Q&A, the winners are BBC challenge- well done Lily, Jude, Marnie and Sol! @BlatchMill @pragmaticweb #DigitalDay18 pic.twitter.com/v5Ip1iI7TN
— BlatchGF (@BlatchGf) November 13, 2018
The dragons are out during the pitching section of the BIMA #DigitalDay18 at @BlatchMill ! Lots of interesting questions coming from the panel ♀️ pic.twitter.com/8vh6YVKRWX
— Pragmatic (@pragmaticweb) November 13, 2018
#DigitalDay18 good luck to Aberdeen Airport @ABZ_Airport & @KemnayAcademy who will be running their @BIMA Digital Day today. Have fun guys! pic.twitter.com/DDAL0ggE2s
— BIMAscotland (@BIMAscotland) November 15, 2018
#DigitalDay18 great pitches from @Shawlands_DET with tough questioning from fellow classmates. pic.twitter.com/j5t6AlUD1i
— BIMAscotland (@BIMAscotland) November 13, 2018
Back in the North Glasgow area at Springburn Academy today for #digitalday18. We’re giving the youth an insight into working on apps and websites. Great young people and great teacher. pic.twitter.com/PQIhlB7CVf
— Liam Nugent (@liamjnugent) November 13, 2018
"We need more people to go into the tech sector who can design the products and services that people need to keep building our economy" - @LDN_CDO opens #DigitalDay18 at @NewCityCol #Hackney pic.twitter.com/gIFUXbwhex
— Maeve O'Sullivan (@maeve_os) November 13, 2018