Latest news

Welcome to the latest edition of Ufi's Community Newsletter.

This week's newsletter includes:

💡 Ufi's £900k VocTech Activate grant fund opens in January, book one of our pre-application workshops now;

📣 Explore our new 2025-2030 strategy: unlocking the full potential of technology to get adults learning;

💻Watch our Head of Public Affairs discuss the future of AI and skills development; and much more...

Don't miss:
Ufi's £900k VocTech Activate grant fund opens in January

Our next VocTech Activate grant fund will open for applications on 6th January 2025. Our pre-application workshops are filling up fast, don't miss your chance to register.

We're offering grants of £30k - £60k to support the design, development, testing and adoption of new digital tools and approaches that could reach learners furthest from opportunity and have the potential to transform learning for work.

Interested in applying? Try our eligibility checker first to see if this grant fund is right for your project. 

Once you've tried the eligibility checker and think your project could be a good fit, we recommend booking one of our pre-application online workshops.

Catch-up: Ufi launch 2025-2030 strategy

Last month we launched our 2025-2030 strategy, our roadmap to unlocking the full potential of technology to get adults learning.

With a mission to bridge skills gaps and improve access for underserved communities, our approach focuses on fostering innovation through our grant funding, direct investments, strategic partnerships, and challenge programmes.

Our vision is focused on creating a future where digital tools empower individuals and businesses, ensuring vocational learning drives UK-wide economic and social growth. Our new five year strategy underscores our commitment to enabling transformative change in the UK skills system and fostering a more inclusive, tech-enabled learning environment.

News: VocTech Challenge cohort kick-off workshop

This month we brought our VocTech Challenge Impact Network + Grant Fund cohort together for an in-person kick-off workshop. 

The six organisations in this cohort are refining and deploying digital solutions and approaches to address systemic barriers in adult learning and drive change in the UK skills system.

During the workshop we kick-started our VocTech Challenge Impact Network, a supportive community of organisations and individuals working alongside each other as part of an active, programme designed to create connections, share knowledge, test assumptions and accelerate adoption and deployment of vocational technology. 

The day was filled with thoughtful and insightful discussions. We're looking forward to supporting these organisations on their journey to developing and scaling their bold, tech-led approaches to get adults learning. 

Congratulations: FutureDotNow win Tech Impact Award

Congratulations to our strategic partner FutureDotNow for winning the Tech Impact Award - Promoting Digital Skills (Not for profit).

FutureDotNow is a coalition of industry leaders working to ensure that all adults have the essential digital skills they need to benefit their own prosperity and UK productivity. Through our strategic partnership, we are working with FutureDotNow to showcase how digital tools, technology and pedagogy can help improve digital capability and confidence of the UK workforce.

Congratulations also to our portfolio company MyPocketSkill for reaching the finals in the category Inspiring the Next Generation (Private Sector) and to our CEO Rebecca Garrod-Waters for also reaching the finals for the Outstanding Tech Leadership Award. 

Watch: AI and skills for the future

Our Head of Public Affairs, Josh Smith, featured in a podcast by Jisc exploring how AI is shaping workforce readiness, essential skills, and lifelong learning.

Josh joined Anthony Bravo, CEO and principal at Basingstoke College of Technology, and Tom Moule, AI specialist at Jisc for an engaging discussion about AI’s transformative role in education, teaching, and skills development.

Hear how Anthony created a realistic AI clone of himself, the use of AI-driven ESOL tools to overcome language barriers and foster connections, and how our portfolio company Bodyswaps provides a safe, immersive platform for honing critical skills like interviewing. 

Webinar: The future of summative and formative assessment

Join our portfolio company Metaverse Learning for a webinar exploring the future of summative and formative assessments.

Hosted by Jisc, Metaverse Learning will discuss how mixed reality tools and immersive technology are changing how technical education evaluations are carried out. They'll explore how these innovative tools may boost learning results, increase engagement, and future-proof the education industry with input from Ascentis, and prominent figures in Further Education.

Tune in on Thursday, 30th January, from 12pm to 1pm.

Keep in touch!

We love to hear your news and views, so be sure to follow us on social and tag us into your posts!

Received this email from somebody else?

Sign-up today to get it direct to your inbox