DXC opens London Digital Futures Academy with West Ham

DXC Technology launched the first London cohort of its Digital Futures Academy with West Ham United Foundation on 12 November 2026, taking 30 Year 8 students into a four-year programme serving ages 12 to 16.

The scheme will be delivered at The Foundry, the foundation's community hub in Beckton, and follows one group of students through their entire secondary school years. The syllabus combines technology instruction with professional development, career awareness and personal growth.

The launch lands on a skills shortage DXC itself has measured. The company cited data showing that half of London businesses say their workforce lacks the skills needed to meet organisational requirements in the age of AI.

What will the 30 students study?

The programme's workshop list covers five named areas: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, virtual reality, automation and data analytics. Each sits inside a broader curriculum that pairs technical lessons with sessions on careers and personal development.

Students will also meet DXC employees and other industry professionals to learn about routes into the technology sector. That contact is built into the four-year design, not confined to a single launch-day event.

Continuity is the distinguishing feature. The academy keeps the same cohort together across secondary school, so organisers can build progression around a group that starts in Year 8 at ages 12 to 16.

Why employers are pressing for more digital skills?

DXC's cited research put the gap in numerical terms: half of London businesses say their workforce lacks the skills needed to meet organisational requirements in the age of AI.

DXC's release places the London launch inside a wider debate over how schools, employers and community groups should respond to changing labour market needs. It describes technology employers as repeatedly raising concerns about shortages in data, software, security and AI.

Access remains the second problem. The release says access to those career paths stays uneven for many young people, which is the gap West Ham United Foundation and DXC say they are addressing in East London.

How large is the programme now?

The London intake extends an initiative that began in Manchester with Manchester United Foundation and later expanded to Newcastle and Erskine.

More than 100 students are currently enrolled across those locations. In 2026, 47 students completed the first full four-year cohort.

Those two figures set the scale against which the new London cohort will be measured. The four-year timetable places the 30 students who began in November 2026 at completion in 2030.

What happened at the taster sessions?

The launch included taster sessions, or preview workshops, giving students an early look at the academy's activities. Participants coded on laptops, learned how computer components are manufactured, explored sensors and virtual reality, and worked in teams on ideas for future technology products.

One student, named in the release as David, said the experience differed from normal school lessons and broadened his interest in technology and engineering.

"In school, we haven't done anything like this. "We started by doing some coding on the laptops, before learning about the components that make up a computer and how they're manufactured. We then explored the use of sensors and virtual reality, before working as a team to come up with an idea for the future. My team came up with a neuro-link device."

Another student, Bethany, said the range of activities pushed her to examine technology careers more closely.

"I really enjoyed all the different experiences. Although they're all related to technology, there was such a wide variety of activities to try. It's made me want to explore even more. "It's very different from what you would experience at school, and it's really fun. I'm not sure what I want to do in the future yet, so it's good to learn about new careers and discover more of the opportunities available to me as I think about what I might want to do when I grow up."

What do the partners bring?

West Ham United Foundation is helping connect the programme with local schools and families in East London. The organisation runs more than 35 programmes and initiatives across East London, Essex and overseas, spanning learning, employability, youth and community support.

Jesse Foyle, Director of Programmes at West Ham United Foundation, said the scheme gives young people a chance to explore different areas of technology while meeting people already working in the field.

"Through our work with young people and local communities, we know how important it is to create opportunities that help them build confidence, discover their strengths and explore future careers. Partnering with DXC Technology on the Digital Futures Academy gives young people the chance to develop digital skills, meet industry professionals and see the opportunities open to them in the technology sector. We're excited to help more young people in East London take their next steps towards a future full of possibilities."

Foyle's organisation covers three delivery areas, East London, Essex and overseas, through more than 35 programmes and initiatives. That network gives the academy a local route into schools and families.

What is DXC putting behind it?

The academy forms part of DXC's responsible business work — its social-impact activity covering social mobility, community engagement and future skills. The company employs 6,000 technology professionals across the UK and Ireland, with teams in London, Newcastle, Erskine, Tewkesbury and Farnborough.

Anne-Marie Wallace, UKI responsible business lead at DXC Technology, said the aim was to expose young people to technology early as demand for digital skills continues to evolve.

"The rapid pace of AI and digital change is reshaping the skills people need to succeed, which is why it is so important to give young people the opportunity to engage with technology early and see the possibilities it can create," Wallace said.

"Through the Digital Futures Academy, and with the support of our partners, we are helping young people build the skills, confidence and awareness they need to be prepared for a future shaped by technology."

Wallace's framing puts AI-driven skill churn at the centre of the case for early exposure. DXC's own scale, including 6,000 technology professionals across the UK and Ireland and running cohorts in four named locations, determines how much teaching capacity it can commit.

What does the political backing amount to?

James Asser, MP for West Ham and Beckton, attended the launch. He said longer-term programmes could help local young people identify interests and build confidence over time.

"It's incredibly important that companies and communities come together to create opportunities for young people. There is so much talent and enthusiasm among children and young people locally. The key is giving them the chance to discover those interests, develop their skills and see where they could take them. "What makes this programme so exciting is the opportunity to invest in young people for the longer term, helping them build their confidence and develop skills that can open doors to future opportunities, including careers they may not even know exist yet."

Asser's attendance supplies political endorsement for a model built on duration rather than one-off training. The programme commits a fixed group of 30 students to four years, starting from Year 8.

What comes next?

The immediate test is retention and completion. DXC reported 47 students finishing the first full four-year cohort in 2026, with more than 100 currently enrolled across Manchester, Newcastle, Erskine and now London.

The programme's next measurable milestone comes when the London cohort reaches its own four-year end in 2030, four years after the 47 students who completed the first full cohort.