Unlocking Digital Potential — free 8-week digital skills programme for young people in Ilkeston & Erewash

Unlocking Digital Potential — Softclue free 8-week digital skills programme. Learn. Grow. Play.

Softclue Community Impact Hub delivers digital skills, employability training and gaming collaboration programmes for young people.

Learn. Grow. Play.

10
Learners per cohort
8
Weeks of training
15
Laptops in trolley
2
PS5 gaming stations

What the programme offers

DIGITAL SKILLS

Build essential digital skills for the future.

GAMING COLLABORATION

Team up, strategise and develop real-world skills.

EMPLOYABILITY TRAINING

Prepare for your future career with confidence.

PERSONAL GROWTH

Grow your mindset, confidence and potential.

SAFE & INCLUSIVE

A respectful, supportive and inclusive environment.

Cohort calendar

Small cohorts. Big outcomes.

Each cohort is capped at 12 learners so trainers can give real attention. When a cohort fills, new applicants are automatically placed in the next one.

Join the next cohort

Free to attend. Open to young people in Cotmanhay & Erewash.

  • 8 weeks of in-person training
  • Laptop & PS5 gaming sessions
  • Certificate on completion
  • Parent updates by SMS & email
Apply now

The Pod, 17 Summerfields Way, Ilkeston. DE7 9JJ

Programme location

Learn in a space built for digital confidence.

Our welcoming Ilkeston learning centre is equipped for practical training, collaborative sessions and supported learning.

The Pod

17 Summerfields Way, Ilkeston, DE7 9JJ

Get directions
Curriculum

Eight weeks. One transformation.

A focused journey from digital confidence to AI fluency — designed for young people, delivered locally.

WEEK 01

Digital Foundations & Platform Orientation

Welcome, device responsibility, laptop basics and a tour of your learner dashboard.

WEEK 02

Internet Safety & Introduction to Microsoft Excel

Stay safe online, then start creating, formatting and calculating in Excel.

WEEK 03

Introduction to Databases & SQL Queries

Explore tables and records, connect to SQL Server (AdventureWorks) and write your first queries.

WEEK 04

Working with Real Business Data in Microsoft Excel

Import real sales data, build Excel Tables, PivotTables and a simple business dashboard.

WEEK 05

Charts & Data Storytelling

Turn numbers into pictures — spot trends and build a monthly expenses dashboard.

WEEK 06

Introduction to Power BI

Import Excel data into Power BI, build your first report and add interactive filters.

WEEK 07

Power BI Dashboards & Data Storytelling

Slicers, trends and presenting one meaningful insight from your data.

WEEK 08

Artificial Intelligence, Showcase & Graduation

Prompt writing, responsible AI, final showcase, certificates and graduation.

Our funder

Funded by Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, and the East Midlands Combined County Authority