Connecting Young People With Industry to Shape the Future of Tech

Over the past 15 years, Apps for Good has reached nearly 350,000 young people through our free computing courses. Last year, we celebrated this milestone by sharing inspirational stories that highlight the impact students can make when they use tech for good.

As part of the celebrations, we brought together students and industry professionals to explore technology from both a student and industry perspective. These conversations demonstrate the power of Industry Engagement to bring learning to life, helping young people see how their ideas connect to the real world while building confidence, motivation and essential skills.

One of those conversations was between students from St Paul’s RC Academy and Mark Martin MBE from UKBlackTech. Together, they discussed the future of tech, innovation, and the importance of giving young people the skills to shape their world.

Having the opportunity to interview Mark gave the students direct access to someone working in both technology and education today. Hearing his perspective made their own learning feel relevant and current, reinforcing why the skills they’ve been developing through the course matter. When asked what tech for good meant to him, Mark connected his answer to the students’ own work with Apps for Good.

“We want to leave the world better than how we found it. With tech now, with the different tools and different platforms that are available, and some of the work that you are doing, some of the exciting work that I’ve been hearing recently around your innovation, we really want to change how we see tech and how we can use tech for good.”

The conversation also explored the rapid pace of technological change over the past 15 years, from mobile apps to AI and cloud computing. Looking ahead, Mark spoke about the importance of preparing young people for a digital world, helping them understand technology as a core literacy, and emphasised the importance of ensuring that young people from all backgrounds see themselves as contributors to the future of tech.

“You are going to be the future and it’s really important that all students from all different backgrounds contribute to that. Think about all of the challenges in your local area. We need new ideas, we need new creativity. So we need people from all different backgrounds and different experiences to be able to capture and to understand that, ‘Yeah, I can contribute too.’"

When asked where he sees himself in 15 years, Mark’s response highlighted the power of positive role models in inspiring the next generation.

“In 15 years I’d love to make more impact, inspire more people to pursue technology and not only see technology just as a tool but as a special power to change the world.”

By connecting young people with industry leaders who reflect their own values, Industry Engagement can grow student aspirations and reinforce the idea that technology can be a force for good.

Mark also turned the conversation back to the students, giving Tayo and Daniel the opportunity to share their own thoughts. They introduced Mark to their prototype app, which promotes awareness, reflection and action against racism and is rooted in the lived experiences of one of the team members.

When discussing what made them take part in Apps for Good, Tayo reflected on how his motivation evolved over time. What began as a fun project developed into something more meaningful as he recognised the potential real-world impact of their idea.

“You’re actually doing something that could change people, that could help. You’re not just sitting in a class doing work, hand it in, and then it doesn’t even matter in a week or so.”

Experiences like this help to motivate students, as they see that their learning has purpose beyond the classroom. Alongside this, they also develop essential skills such as teamwork, communication and critical thinking as they collaborate, present and refine their ideas. When asked what can be done in education to help young people believe in themselves, the students noted the value of being able to see the real-world impact of what they’re learning.

“There’s a difference between telling someone and showing them that anyone’s able to make a difference.”

This conversation highlights the power of Industry Engagement to connect classrooms with careers. By giving students access to real-world insight and positive role models, they begin to see that their ideas matter and that they have a role to play in building a better, more inclusive digital world. When young people are given the opportunity to engage directly with industry, learning can become more purposeful and inspiring.

We're proud that Industry Engagement is embedded into all of our free computing courses, bringing industry professionals directly into classrooms. Visit our courses page to find out more.

You can see more from the interview in our short edits here and here, which shows the impact of Industry Engagement in action.