Digitalisation for Further Education providers

Located at the heart of the local business community,
further education (FE) colleges can use Shoestring to
bring digital innovation into companies.

The Shoestring for FE Programme enhances learners work placements by offering a structured set of activities to realise digital projects that add real value to local businesses. This practical training is a rapid way to further develop transferable skills of Level 3 and Level 4 learners studying engineering, construction or digital courses. Therefore helping post-16 understand industrial needs for digital solutions and gain practical experience with projects applied in companies. Overall, offering FE colleges a seamless way to strengthen relationships with local businesses and deliver skills needed to drive productivity in their region.

Activities

FE Colleges can incorporate a range of activities into their existing offering to improve the technical and leadership skills of both the future and current workforce.

The activities featured below illustrate what is available:

Stages

The programme is delivered across stages in both college and local companies.

Sessions

The programme runs sessions alongside the FE college curricula.

Industry Engagement

The Shoestring for FE Programme offers support for industrial engagement.

Case Studies

These case studies illustrates the impact the programme is having across FE sector.

Case Studies

Coventry College

During the 2025–2026 academic year, Coventry College integrated the Shoestring for FE Pilot Programme into its Engineering curriculum for a cohort of 14 first-year T Level students specializing in Manufacturing, Processing, and Control. This hands-on initiative allowed learners to build and deploy low-cost air quality monitoring solutions inside active college workshops. By correlating real-world environmental data directly with workshop timetables, the project helped students master essential data interpretation, project management, and presentation skills. Crucially, the experience significantly accelerated the learners’ commercial awareness and technical self-assurance, providing them with a distinct advantage as they prepare for their upcoming second-year industry placements.

City College Norwich

During the 2025–2026 academic year, City College Norwich integrated the Shoestring for FE Pilot Programme into its curriculum for a cohort of second-year T Level Mechatronics students. Acting as a real-world, employer-led project, this hands-on initiative allowed students to build low-cost power monitoring devices, attach them to college air compressors, and identify key energy inefficiencies. The project not only delivered concrete cost-saving and sustainability recommendations but also significantly enhanced student engagement, technical acumen, and career readiness.