Students create digital tools to solve problems

Apps for Good has had a busy spring following the successful launch of this years cohort of Apps at our App Launch in February. 

On February 27th, winning teams got a chance to show off their progress at the event in London Bridge. The student teams behind the apps, all of whom took part in the Apps for Good course, had been working closely with professional development agencies to get their app ready for market for the eight months prior to the event. The students are all between 9 and 18 years old, and were selected as winners at the 2016 Apps for Good Awards. We also introduced our new Managing Director Heather, previously Head of Communications at Apps for Good, who is taking over from former Co-CEO Debbie as we move into our 7^th year powering young technology entrepreneurs. Fellows Mohima & Katie were amongst the speakers, talking about their Apps for Good journeys so far. Take a look at our Flickr account to see photographs from the day. 

Moving into March and April, Apps for Good have been running events across the country in the lead up to our annual Awards on June 20^th at the Barbican. We held regional pitch events in Hertfordshire, the West and East Midlands, the North West and most notably in Scotland.

On Wednesday 15th March, students from schools across Scotland travelled to Edinburgh’s Quincentenary Conference Centre to participate in Apps for Good’s first ever Scottish event, which celebrated the future generation of Scottish digital makers.

Our inaugural Scottish event was made possible after we were awarded a grant from Digital Xtra, funded by the Scottish Government Digital Skills Business Excellence Partnership, who have provided Apps for Good with support to help us grow our after-school activities in Scotland. Phil Worms says, “Digital Xtra is delighted to be able to support the first Apps for Good event to be held in Scotland. It is a fantastic initiative that focuses our young people’s minds on becoming creators rather than consumers of technology and better prepares them for their future whatever career path they might take. Young Scottish students who have this creative capacity coupled with technical ability will become the next generation of entrepreneurs and are therefore vital to Scotland’s long term economic success.”

The event brought together some of Scotland’s brightest young digital makers and entrepreneurs under one roof in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre for a day of networking and skill development workshops. The teams of young people had been working to create apps to tackle the problems and issues that matter most to them. At the event, the students showcased their products, participated in workshops to hone their skills and received feedback from top industry experts in Scotland.

Representatives from Scottish technology companies volunteered to deliver four master-class workshops to attendees. Jamie Sutherland from Mallzee spoke about the importance of getting feedback from customers. Carole Logan from digital agency Equator showed the young entrepreneurs how to build digital prototypes. Katie Lyne from CivTech shared real world examples of product development and creation, including the triumphs and failures. Phil Worms from Digital Xtra spoke about putting together a perfect pitch. These workshops meant that the young people got a great insight into what it takes to make it in tech in Scotland from those already working in the industry.

The invited industry guests were chosen to reflect the diversity of Scotland’s burgeoning and dynamic tech community, and students had the opportunity to pitch their app idea and gain advice and feedback from the invited guests during the Marketplace part of the event. The event culminated with the invited guests casting their vote in our People’s Choice Award which will recognise the top three teams.

Lastly, our Head of Product Ruairí has written about his story and why he values his work at Apps for Good as a feature on our blog, giving some in depth insight into what goes into all of our digital course and content delivery. If you are interested in what it is like working in a senior role at Apps for Good, or any multi audience digital charity, give it a read!

As always from all of us at Apps for Good, thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you at the Barbican for the Apps for Good Awards in June!