Ada

Ada & Impetus

It is refreshing to work with a Foundation that 'gets it' and can quickly galvanise it's resources to provide the support and guidance to help us get on with leading the organisation better which ultimately translates into increased impact for our brilliant learners.

– Mark Smith, CEO of Ada, the National College for Digital Skills

The need: The digital industry is growing but many young people feel they don’t have the skills to contribute to it. Added to that, there is limited diversity in the tech sector, with just 14-15% of the tech workforce from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Our portfolio partner: Ada is empowering the next generation of diverse digital talent by delivering high-quality apprenticeships and running a high-performing 6th form college, all focused on advanced digital skills. They aim to widen access to tech careers for young people from diverse backgrounds, including women and ethnic minorities.

Our impact: Ada is the top performing institution in the country for the Computer Science BTEC with their students attaining one grade higher than the national median. Our work with Ada will focus on supporting them to grow with impact. We are aiming to help them to double their reach in three years, while retaining their focus on quality and disadvantaged learners.

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Educational attainment

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are 40% less likely pass English and maths GCSEs than their better off peers. We’re focussed on supporting young people to develop social and emotional skills; championing tutoring; and shining a light on chronically underserved young people excluded from school pass English and maths GCSEs, compared with 69% of all other pupils. With the right support, we can make life after school fairer.
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Sustained employment

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are twice as likely to be not in employment, education, or training (NEET) as their better of peers. As co-chairs of the Youth Employment Group, we work to ensure these young people are not forgotten through the ups and downs of the economy.
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