Digital Supply Chain Programme: Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub
Creating a virtual hub, data observatory and network of industrial living labs to optimise information flows across manufacturing supply chains.
Following a successful first year reaching more than 560 young people across the North East, Digital Catapult and EDT are extending their partnership and expanding to Northern Ireland and the South West and Wales to deliver even more hands-on STEM opportunities over the next academic year.
The partnership, which launched in 2025 through the North East Pathways to Employment programme, has already demonstrated the power of bringing education and industry together. In its first year, the programme engaged 563 young people across five schools through immersive experience days, a regional competition and a celebration event. The activities helped students develop technical knowledge, confidence and employability skills while introducing them to exciting careers in emerging technologies.
The first year focused on giving students practical experience with technologies including virtual reality and immersive environments, while encouraging teamwork, creativity, problem-solving and innovation. The programme also connected students directly with employers and industry professionals, helping them better understand the breadth of opportunities available within STEM. View the success of the partnership so far in their Impact Report.
Beyond the classroom, the partnership strengthened connections between education, employers and regional stakeholders. Industry volunteers supported competition events, employer roundtables helped shape future activity, and two programmes achieved Industrial Cadets accreditation, creating even stronger pathways into STEM careers.
Building on this success, the second year will expand the programme’s reach including 10 Challenger Experience Days, giving even more students the opportunity to explore emerging technologies through hands-on activities. Five Accelerated Bronze Industrial Cadets projects, enabling young people to develop workplace skills while working on meaningful STEM challenges. While enabling a return of the popular North East Pathways to Employment Competition, giving students the chance to showcase their creativity, innovation and teamwork. By leveraging Digital Catapult’s place-based approach to deep tech innovations, the next phase will also take advantage of regional hubs across the North East, Northern Ireland, and the South West and Wales.
Together, these activities will continue to inspire young people, strengthen employer engagement and help develop the future STEM workforce by providing meaningful experiences that connect classroom learning with real-world careers.
