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AtkinsRéalis is to help deliver up to 10,000 work experience placements for young people over the next three years through the government’s TechFirst programme.
The engineering firm is one of eight industry partners supporting the initiative, which aims to give young people greater access to work experience and help them develop the digital and technology skills needed across the UK economy.
The programme forms part of wider efforts to strengthen the UK’s digital skills pipeline and open up career opportunities in technology-related roles across multiple sectors, including engineering and infrastructure.
Chris Ball, president for UK and Ireland at AtkinsRéalis, said the Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan highlighted the scale of opportunity for young people and the breadth of industries that would need digital skills to support future growth.
“Technology and digital expertise will increasingly be at the heart of how we address some of the country’s most important challenges, from transforming the UK’s infrastructure and public services to strengthening national security and resilience,” said Ball.
He added that work experience was vital to opening up these opportunities and building a broad and diverse talent pool for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
AtkinsRéalis’ placements give young people the opportunity to develop skills and professional connections, while gaining a better understanding of the range of careers available and how digital expertise can be applied to real-world challenges.
The company also engages school students in STEM and recruits through its wider early careers programme.
AtkinsRéalis employs more than 14,000 people across 45 UK offices. In 2026, it welcomed more than 630 apprentices, graduates and placement students into its early careers programme, including a growing number with digital and technology skills.
