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Innovating for Social Good: Design Thinking as a Catalyst for Change
Tackling Economic Inequality - Create new businesses, jobs and skills, and increase supply chain resilience and capacity.
In today's digital era, where proficiency in technology and soft skills are crucial, Microsoft and UBDS have embarked on an ambitious initiative called 'Care to Succeed' This programme is dedicated to empowering young people in England who have experienced the care system, involving participants from Trafford Council, London Borough of Haringey, and Northampton Children’s Trust.
Understanding the diverse needs of these youth, 'Care to Succeed' transcends the traditional training model. It incorporates personalised mentorship, career development workshops, access to digital learning resources, and the practical application of design thinking. This holistic approach not only arms participants with the skills to innovate but also fosters their personal and professional growth. It guides them in identifying their career goals, harnessing their unique talents, and enhancing their employability and self-assurance in the job market.
Empowering Through Design Thinking
A key component of the programme is the immersive experience of learning and applying design thinking, a human centred approach to innovation, teaching participants how to tackle complex problems by understanding the needs of those they are designing solutions for, collectively brainstorming and testing new ideas.
The design thinking journey involves key stages:
1. Empathy Phase: This initial stage involves design thinking workshops, led by UBDS consultants, where participants and their mentors delve into understanding and expressing their needs and aspirations. It’s a deep dive into their experiences and challenges, aiming to identify specific, solvable problems.
2. Ideation Phase: In this brainstorming stage, a wealth of ideas are generated, collaboratively honed, and tested. This process is crucial in developing innovative solutions to transform the care system.
The culmination of this journey is an interactive Hackathon, where theoretical concepts are morphed into practical, impactful applications. This event brings together participants, councils, and UBDS developers to create solutions that provide continuous support, education, and skill development, specifically addressing the challenges faced by young people.
Progress and Insights
The ‘Care to Succeed’ programme is now in full swing, and we have successfully conducted all design thinking workshop with participants from Trafford Council, London Borough of Haringey and Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, and their mentors. In these session we opened the dialogue by asking participants ‘What are the biggest fears or barriers you face when thinking about your future?’ The responses highlighted concerns such as uncertainty about career choices, the daunting tasks of finding and securing a job, lack of clarity on necessary skills, and financial hurdles.
Throughout engaging dialogue, we pinpointed a pivotal challenge: the overwhelming uncertainty of how to effectively stand out when applying for job opportunities. Reflecting on this collective insight, we moved into the ideation phase where creativity and problem-solving led us to identify a novel solution – an application designed to simplify the job application process, offering tangible support and empowering young people to navigate each phase with confidence.
This solution epitomises the essence of 'Care to Succeed' – not just educating, but providing practical tools that directly address the challenges faced by participants. The insights gained are invaluable, laying a solid groundwork for a solution that truly resonates with these young individuals.
Insights from the design thinking workshops with the care experienced
Looking Ahead
Our journey in applying design thinking extends beyond fostering innovation. As Microsoft and UBDS progress with this transformative initiative, our goal is clear – to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people who have experienced care. We aim to ensure they complete the programme not only with enhanced skills but also with a renewed sense of confidence and purpose. Our collective effort is focused on empowering them to surmount challenges, seize opportunities, and lay a solid foundation for success in the digital world.
You can read more about the UBDS Digital Consulting Practice and the services we provide to our clients here.
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.
Ellie Huckle
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
Annie Collings
Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.
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