The UK Government appointed Cognizant as a strategic industry partner to its TechFirst programme
The partnership will see Cognizant provide work placements and volunteering to support the Government's ambition to open pathways for young people into the UK's fast-growing tech sector
LONDON, UK , 02 Apr 2026 (Viralpressreleases.com) -
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has named Cognizant a strategic industry partner for its TechFirst programme. This initiative supports the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, helping young people from all backgrounds access technology careers. Over four years, the partnership aims to break down barriers to economic growth and support more than 4,000 graduates, researchers and innovators while reaching one million secondary school students across the UK.
As part of the partnership, Cognizant will provide 100 work placements for undergraduate and master’s students. These placements align with six frontier industries in the Government’s UK Industrial Strategy. The goal is to deliver hands on tech sector experience, helping build future entrepreneurs, innovators, practitioners and researchers.
Building on its Synapse initiative, which has already helped over one million people worldwide gain advanced tech skills, Cognizant will also support 1,000 volunteering hours. These hours will be used to inspire and mentor the next generation of tech talent across UK schools and colleges, strengthening the domestic talent pipeline.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she is committed to creating a tech sector open to all, which is why programmes like TechFirst matter greatly. She noted the initiative focuses on inspiring children in classrooms and supporting innovators in future tech firms. She welcomed Cognizant as an industry partner and looks forward to helping more people access tech careers.
Rohit Gupta, UK&I Managing Director at Cognizant, stated that technology continues to accelerate while talent to harness it lags behind. He expressed pride in supporting TechFirst to build the next generation of tech talent. Citing recent research, he noted that 93 percent of jobs could already be disrupted by AI, making structured support from the tech sector and government essential for developing future workforce skills.
About Cognizant
Cognizant is an AI Builder and technology services provider listed on NASDAQ as CTSH. The company builds the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by creating full stack AI solutions for clients. Its deep industry, process and engineering expertise helps embed an organisation’s unique context into technology systems, amplifying human potential, delivering tangible returns and keeping global enterprises ahead in a fast changing world. More information is a...Media Contacts
globalpr@cognizant.comCategory : Science, IT, AI & Technology
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