This document describes BrightSparks, a program that connects local technology companies with disadvantaged youth to help address the digital skills gap. Through BrightSparks, a technology company provides funding and advice for one local child aged 8-13 to receive 12 months of weekly tech education at a makerspace. Both the child and company benefit, as the child's life is transformed and the company gains connections in the community and a potential future talent pipeline. BrightSparks has already helped 10 companies support 10 children in Brighton through MakerClub, a provider of hands-on tech education for youth. The document promotes BrightSparks to companies as a way to give back, boost their talent pipeline, empower staff, and have a

1. A scheme to help technology
companies tackle digital exclusion in
their local community!
makerclub.org
BrightSparks

2. Technology is changing faster than
ever, but not everyone can keep up
Digital Skills Divide
Companies need
more people with
the right digital
skills.
Young people from
disadvantaged
communities do not
have access to the
right equipment or
learning path.
“An estimated 1.2 million new technical and digitally skilled people are needed
by 2022 to satisfy future skills needs” (source UK Digital Strategy 2017)

3. BrightSparks is a simple, powerful &
human solution
ONE LOCAL DIGITAL
BUSINESS
...providing basic support, some
funding and advice on starting a
career in digital.
...aged 8 to 13 from a low-income
family is provided with 12 months of
weekly tech education from
MakerClub, at a local ‘makerspace’
full of awesome equipment!
ONE LOCAL CHILD
+
=
EVERYONE WINS!
...the business is connected to the
community, helping improve future
recruitment & transforming a child’s
life.
“My favourite thing about coming to MakerClub is
EVERYTHING!” - Poppy, 10

4. OVERVIEW
10 local digital technology
companies helped support 10
children from the city's most
deprived areas. The children were
chosen by ICT teachers and local
community groups
BrightSparks Case Study Brighton
If only I could have had
this when I was younger
BrightSparks helps
support us as a
business when finding
talent in the future
We want to support the
next generation
Antony Ribot,
Founder of Ribot
Chris Palk,
MD of DapApps
Kirsty Rigden,
Creative Director, FuturLab

5. CONNECT TO THE
COMMUNITY
Give back to the local
community and cement your
spot as a company that cares
BOOST YOUR
TALENT PIPELINE
Be part of the solution and
empower the next generation
of digital developers and
designers
EMPOWER YOUR
STAFF
We provide free basic training,
so any of your staff who’d like
to help teach the kids can get
stuck in
LOW BUSINESS
EFFORT
Brightsparks shouldn’t be a
distraction for your business.
Get involved as much or as
little as your need
FREE PRESS
CONTENT
Free career videos, blogs and
lots of local and national press
produced for your business for
taking part
BIG IMPACT ON A
YOUNG LIFE
This is the main reason for
taking part, and BrightSparks
really does make a huge
difference
Why BrightSparks works for business

6. Who are MakerClub
300
CHILDREN
TAUGHT
EVERY WEEK
8 CENTRES
ACROSS THE
UK
HIGHLY
RATED BY
PARENTS
AWARD
WINNING
We have been helping young people think
like inventors since 2014.
We provide a local community space, mentors and a digital learning platform
for children aged 8 to 13 to develop a range of practical, creative technology
skills, from prototyping & design to coding & robotics.

7. Peers
Learning flourishes as a
social activity, with
people sharing ideas,
collaborating on projects,
and building on one
another’s work.
Play
Learning involves playful
experimentation – trying
new things, tinkering
with materials, testing
boundaries, taking risks,
and iterating.
Projects
People learn best when
they are actively working
on meaningful projects –
generating new ideas,
designing prototypes,
refining iteratively.
What we teach How we teach it
Passion
When people work on
projects they care about,
they work longer,
harder, and learn more
in the process.
Our approach is to nurture a love
of learning in a supportive
environment, with all the tools,
mentorship and community a
young person needs to thrive.
We are training people to invent
in the real-world.
A MakerClub 3D printed robotic arm
project - controlled by a smartphone
over Bluetooth

8. If your company would like to know
more, lets have a coffee some time.
Declan Cassidy
declan@makerclub.org