As they look to equip future generations with vital leadership skills, Netcompany and Ahead Partnership have expanded their flagship programme to build UK’s digital talent pipeline. The Smart Cities Challenge has reached more than 600 school students across the UK since 2023.
Netcompany is a European IT consultancy, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1999, the company has offices across 12 different countries, employing more than 7,800 staff in its offices in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Vietnam, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Greece.
The firm regularly works with public bodies to help modernise or digitise infrastructure. Now, however, the firm has tasked hundreds of school children to follow in its footsteps – with its Smart Cities Challenge. The flagship programme is delivered by social value specialist Ahead Partnership and international IT services provider, Netcompany, and aims to help equip young people across the UK with the skills and mindset to become the digital leaders of tomorrow.
The three-month long programme has grown significantly since it was launched in 2023, reaching over 600 Year 8 students across London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and the North East, challenging them to design inclusive, sustainable and tech-enabled solutions for the cities of the future.
Richard Davies, Country Managing Partner UK, Netcompany, said, “We’ve seen remarkable growth in the ambition, confidence and creativity of the young people taking part in this programme. By expanding into new regions, we’re not only strengthening our connections with schools and communities, but also helping to build a more diverse pipeline of digital talent for the UK. As technology continues to shape how we live and work, it’s vital that young people understand how digital innovation can drive better outcomes for everyone – from smarter, greener infrastructure to more inclusive public services.”
The initiative formed part of Netcompany’s renewed three-year commitment to fostering digital skills and gender inclusivity among young people. As a founding and anchor sponsor of Ahead Partnership’s award-winning Growing Talent Digital Leeds programme, Netcompany has helped bridge the digital skills gap since 2021. The programme also encouraged students to consider core themes in the evolution of smart cities, including how smart technologies could be integrated with existing infrastructure to improve urban living, accessibility and sustainability.
This year’s Smart Cities Challenge reached hundreds of students across the country. Winning teams from each school received mentoring from Netcompany professionals before competing in a regional cross-school finale judged by industry experts.
Suzie Bell, programme manager at Ahead Partnership, added, “This programme not only inspires young people to explore digital and tech-based careers, but also gives them the confidence to apply their creativity to real-world challenges facing our cities. It has connected employers directly with the next generation of innovators — those who will go on to shape how we design, build and live in smarter, more sustainable communities. For our employer partners, it’s a powerful example of how business-led social value programmes can deliver measurable impact: helping to close the digital skills gap, improve diversity in the sector, and ensure the UK remains competitive in the global tech economy.”