Welcome to the Relaunched School of Tech Quarterly Newsletter

I’m thrilled to bring you this fresh, reimagined newsletter, which I aim to pack with stories, updates, and insights from across BPP School of Tech, Firebrand, and Estio. My goal is to keep you informed while offering interesting content.

First off, a big thank you to everyone who joined us at the Big Apprenticeship Meet-up in London during National Apprenticeship Week. Meeting our learners from BPP, Firebrand, and Estio—alongside finally connecting face-to-face for the first time with some of my colleagues—was a real highlight. The energy and positivity at the event reminded us of the value of live gatherings, especially for those learning remotely. For those in the north, stay tuned for details about our next meet-up—we want to bring this experience closer to you!

I’m excited to attend my first graduation ceremony for School of Tech degree learners on May 15 in London. It’ll be wonderful to celebrate alongside our graduates. And on another exciting note, we’ve just welcomed our first cohort of international students who’ve embarked on our new Technology Management MSc program.

Voting is now open for this year’s Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards! If you’d like to nominate yourself, visit the link here: Nominate Now! – Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2025. Don’t wait too long—the deadline for submissions is May 16.

Outside of work when I’m not busy with family stuff, I’ve been catching up with Netflix’s Daredevil series so I can watch the new series on Disney Plus. I’ve also been sinking my time into a game called Two Point Museum where you manage a virtual museum. Believe me, it’s more fun than it sounds and minutes turn into hours when playing it.

If you have ideas or content you’d like featured in future editions, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out anytime at keatng@bpp.com.

I hope you enjoy the newsletter

Keat

Justine Clack and Egle Butt ran a Data Culture Workshop during the Big Apprenticeship Meet Up event in London. Justine is a Data Tutor for Levels 3-7, specialising in Data Strategy, Data Culture, and Data Leadership. Egle is the Level 4 Data Analyst Programme Lead, who is passionate about empowering students to become Data Influencers within their organisations. Here is Justine’s overview of the session:

A strong Data Strategy is only as effective as its implementation across an organisation, this is where Data Culture plays a crucial role – in essence – this was the core discussion of our workshop. Basically, if Data Strategy and Data Culture went out for coffee, they’d argue over who should pay.

During the session, Egle and I walked attendees through a real-life scenario illustrating the consequences of having neither a solid Data Strategy nor a healthy Data Culture to support it. We then challenged the participants to identify key problems and propose solutions based on the four pillars of a strong Data Culture:

• Governance – How can we implement the Data Strategy within legal and governance frameworks without making them so rigid that they hinder data utilisation?
• Training – What skills are missing that prevent effective implementation of the Data Strategy?
• Communication – How can the organisation improve communication to ensure that data insights are shared effectively?
• Ownership – Which senior leaders should own specific metrics and KPIs to quickly identify and resolve issues, driving the Data Strategy forward?

Working in groups, participants analysed the scenario, discussed the challenges, and collaborated on strategies to address the Data Culture gaps within the company. It was fantastic to see them engage in discussions, demonstrating the very principles of Data Culture within their teams.

Many students found the workshop insightful, recognising that the values they uphold align with those of a strong Data Culture. Several even approached us after the workshop to share their appreciation, mentioning how the session broadened their perspective on leveraging data effectively in their own workplaces.

Overall, it was a dynamic and engaging session filled with meaningful discussions and eager learners.

British Computer Society

Last summer, BPP collaborated with the British Computer Society (BCS) on the ‘Force for Good’ campaign, encouraging apprentices to make a difference and help bridge the digital divide. One influencer, Maha Mobeen, shared, “I want to influence young people from care backgrounds to make positive decisions about their future in IT.”

In June 2024, BPP Apprentice Influencer Becky Grice (Level 6 Digital & Technology Solution Apprentice, Autotrader) co-presented the BCS IT Apprenticeship Awards, saying, “Being an Apprenticeship Influencer has provided me with invaluable experiences and opportunities to impact the apprenticeship community.”

You can read Becky’s full testimonial below:

Joining the Apprenticeship Influencer scheme at BPP has been an enriching journey that continues to contribute to my personal and professional growth. Through this initiative, I’ve been able to engage with fellow apprentices and share invaluable insights, experiences, and resources. 

The opportunities provided through the scheme have been amazing – the highlight for me being the absolute privilege to co-host the 2024 BCS IT & Digital Apprenticeship Awards alongside Rob Bell!  

This, together with other opportunities such as focus groups, feedback sessions and outreach events have helped me to develop essential skills such as communication and networking. I have gained so much confidence in myself, and I feel empowered to embrace new challenges, both within and beyond my role. 

Being an Apprenticeship Influencer has not only provided me with a platform to make a positive impact within the apprenticeship community but has also reinforced the significance of embracing learning experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. I am so grateful for the invaluable experiences and opportunities provided through this scheme, and I am excited to continue collaborating, exploring and growing with current and future apprentices. 

Contact Us: For more information on any of these initiatives, please email us at socialimpact@bpp.com

For 2025, the BPP Technology Apprenticeships and Higher Education team has decided to raise as much money as we can for our chosen staff charity, the British Heart Foundation!

The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK but sadly everyday hundreds of people lose their lives.

It’s only thanks to support from people like us that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures. £24 could pay for two hours of research by an early career scientist, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit our target. Thanks!

Cassandra MacDonald is fundraising for British Heart Foundation

Continuing with BPP’s successful Lunch and Learn series of Masterclass sessions, the following upcoming events are available for booking onto for April, May and June. Please just swipe/click through the flyers below and scan the QR code to book online.