Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan · first published 20 October 2026
This plan sets out the UK government's strategy to open 200,000 entry-level digital and technology jobs over the next decade, primarily by persuading employers — including small firms — to offer apprenticeships, work experience, T Level industry placements and entry-level roles. The single most important change for SMEs that bid for public contracts is the doubling of the social value weighting from 10% to 20% on contracts worth £5 million or more, announced in August 2026: if you supply digital or technology services to central government, your social value score now carries twice the weight it did before. To reduce the burden on smaller employers, the government is creating a "Skills Deal" — one commitment, one sign-up through TechFirst — replacing the fragmented asks of multiple separate schemes. Financial incentives are also on the table: from August 2026, apprenticeship training for eligible under-25s is fully funded for all employers, and non-levy employers (typically SMEs) can receive a hiring payment of up to £2,000 for new apprentices aged 16–24 starting from 1 October 2026. The plan applies primarily to England for most programme details, with TechFirst operating UK-wide and skills policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland remaining devolved.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
The doubling of social value weighting to 20% on £5m+ contracts is a direct scoring shift that SMEs must respond to now — firms that already run apprenticeships, host T Level placements or offer work experience have a concrete, documentable advantage over those that do not. The Skills Deal is explicitly designed to reduce the administrative burden that causes smaller employers to disengage, making it easier for SMEs to participate and then credibly evidence their commitments at bid stage. The TechFirst Women's Programme specifically targets SME employers to connect with mid-career women and returners, offering a ready pipeline of candidates that also strengthens a firm's diversity narrative in bids.
1. Audit and document every existing apprenticeship, T Level industry placement and work experience offer your firm makes — then quantify it (headcount, hours, locations) so it is ready to drop into a social value response at tender stage.
SMEs bidding for central-government contracts worth £5m+ — The social value weighting has doubled from 10% to 20% on contracts worth £5m+; firms with documented, deliverable commitments will score significantly higher than those making vague promises.
2. Build a short 'social value delivery plan' that specifies which local communities you will hire from, how many apprentices or placement students you will take on, and how you will report progress annually — and attach it as a standing module in your bid library.
SMEs bidding for central-government contracts worth £5m+ — The document states KPIs will be allocated to major contracts and annual progress reports made public, meaning vague commitments at bid stage will be scrutinised; concrete, measurable plans reduce risk and improve scores.
3. Sign up to the TechFirst Skills Deal at TechFirst@dsit.gov.uk — make one commitment across work experience, T Level placements, apprenticeships or entry-level roles, replacing the need to engage with multiple separate schemes.
All SMEs supplying digital or technology services — The document explicitly states the Skills Deal was designed because 'smaller employers, facing the cost of engaging with several programmes at once, often step back altogether' — one sign-up reduces your administrative burden while generating evidenceable social value activity.
4. If you are a non-levy employer, plan to take on at least one apprentice aged 16–24 before or shortly after 1 October 2026 to receive the £2,000 hiring payment, and take advantage of fully funded training for eligible under-25s from August 2026.
All SMEs with employees in England — From August 2026 apprenticeship training for eligible under-25s is fully funded for all employers, and non-levy employers receive up to £2,000 per new apprentice aged 16–24 from 1 October 2026 — significantly reducing the net cost of hiring.
5. Contact the TechFirst Women's Programme to register as an SME host employer for mid-career women and returners being supported into frontier technology roles.
SMEs in digital and technology sectors — The programme explicitly targets SME employers as placement partners, offering a pre-supported talent pipeline at no recruitment cost while strengthening your diversity evidence for social value scoring.
6. From September 2027, register with your local Technical Excellence College (if in London, West Midlands, South East, South West or North West) to shape curricula and access work-ready T Level and V Level graduates before competitors do.
SMEs in digital and technology sectors — The document states each college 'gives employers a clear route to help shape the skills and training their future workforce receives' — early engagement gives SMEs access to talent pipelines and influence over course content at no direct cost.
7. Check eligibility for the Youth Jobs Grant (£3,000 per hire) when recruiting 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for six months or more, and use the free Jobs and Careers Service matching support to access pre-screened candidates.
SMEs seeking to reduce hiring costs — The document confirms the Youth Jobs Grant and free recruitment support are open to technology employers; the government explicitly states it 'want[s] many more technology employers to use them'.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
The social value score for bringing benefits to the local community doubles from 10% to 20% for public-sector contracts worth £5 million or more, announced August 2026. (Public-sector contracts worth £5m+, from August 2026)
“the score for bringing benefits to the local community will double from 10% to 20% for contracts worth £5 million or more”
Suppliers can fulfil social value commitments by offering apprenticeships, T Level industry placements and work experience, including through TechFirst. (All suppliers bidding for public-sector contracts with a social value requirement)
“Suppliers can deliver on these commitments in many ways, for example by offering apprenticeships, T Level industry placements and work experience, including through existing programmes such as TechFirst.”
Government departments will allocate KPIs (key performance indicators) to major contracts and make annual progress reports publicly available to ensure delivery of good jobs and skills commitments. (Major central-government digital and technology services contracts)
“government departments will allocate key performance indicators to major contracts and make annual progress reports publicly available, ensuring the delivery of good jobs and skills in digital and technology services”
From August 2026, apprenticeship training for eligible under-25s is fully funded for all employers in England. (All employers in England, from August 2026)
“From August 2026, apprenticeship training in England for eligible under-25s is fully funded for all employers.”
Non-levy employers (typically SMEs) can receive a hiring payment of up to £2,000 for new apprentices aged 16–24 starting from 1 October 2026. (Non-levy employers (typically SMEs) in England, from 1 October 2026)
“non-levy employers (typically SMEs) can receive a hiring payment of up to £2,000 for new apprentices aged 16 to 24 starting from 1 October 2026”
Employers receive up to £2,000 for each foundation apprentice (Level 2, for young people aged 16–21, or up to 24 in specified groups). (All employers in England offering foundation apprenticeships)
“Employers can receive up to £2,000 for each foundation apprentice”
Employers pay no employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25, up to the apprentice upper secondary threshold. (All employers in England with apprentices under 25)
“Employers also pay no employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25, up to the apprentice upper secondary threshold.”
The government's ambition is to open around 200,000 entry-level digital and technology jobs, including apprenticeships, over the next decade (2025–2035). (UK-wide, 2025–2035)
“our ambition is to open around 200,000 genuine entry-level jobs, including apprenticeships, over the same period”
Around 800,000 digital and technology roles are projected to need filling in Industrial Strategy-backed sectors between 2025 and 2035. (UK-wide, 2025–2035)
“around 800,000 digital and technology roles are projected to need filling in sectors backed by the Industrial Strategy”
The Digital and Tech Skills Deal is a single sign-up through TechFirst covering work experience, T Level industry placements, apprenticeships, undergraduate placements and entry-level roles — replacing multiple separate scheme sign-ups. (All employers, UK-wide)
“The Digital and Tech Skills Deal sets out a single offer covering the routes below, so that an employer makes one commitment rather than several, and signs up once through TechFirst.”
TechFirst is backed by up to £250 million and aims to reach one million young people with meaningful AI and technology learning by 2028, a year earlier than planned. (UK-wide, youth strand backed by £24 million over three years)
“Through TechFirst we aim to reach one million young people across the UK with meaningful AI and technology learning by 2028, a year earlier than planned”
The TechFirst Women's Programme will support at least 300 women into paid roles in frontier technologies, with a particular focus on connecting them with SME employers. (SME employers UK-wide)
“Through this programme at least 300 women across the UK will be supported into paid roles in frontier technologies such as AI, cyber security and quantum. There will be a particular focus on mid-career women and returners and on connecting them with SME employers.”
The Youth Jobs Grant is worth £3,000 to an employer who hires a young person aged 18–24 who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months or more. (All employers in England)
“the Youth Jobs Grant, worth £3,000 to an employer who hires a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months or more”
Digital Systems and Data V Level (Level 3 vocational qualification) teaching is due to begin from September 2027. (England, from September 2027)
“Digital Systems and Data is among the first V Level subjects, with teaching due to begin from September 2027”
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement opens for applications from the end of October 2026, funding eligible courses starting from January 2027. (England, from end of October 2026)
“From the end of October 2026, people will be able to apply to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement for funding for eligible courses and modules starting from January 2027”
From 50% of Skills Bootcamps funding in non-devolved areas is ringfenced for Industrial Strategy sectors (including Digital and Technologies) and for health and construction from 2026/27. (Non-devolved areas of England, from 2026/27)
“From 2026/27, in non-devolved areas, 50% of Skills Bootcamps funding is ringfenced for the Industrial Strategy sectors, including the Digital and Technologies sector, and for health and construction.”
This briefing is enkii's interpretation of the official document — the official text always governs.
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