THE PROJECT FACTORY HAS WON ONE OF 17 COVETED POSITIONS WITH THE NSW GOVERNMENT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INNOVATION CHALLENGE

By joining this $10m challenge, Learn Seek Match aims to support girls aged 17-24 facing complex employment challenges in the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands region.

The Project Factory the digital development arm of global communication company Way To Blue, has won the opportunity to partner with the NSW Government for their Youth Employment Innovation Challenge. The team are one of 17 chosen for the challenge and aim to deliver the MVP Learn Seek Match by the end of the 12-week incubation period.

Learn Seek Match will be a free app with a supporting web-based platform which targets 17 to 24-year-old girls, led by Managing Director Katherine Robinson and Producer Emma Grundy, who are unemployed and not undergoing any apprenticeship or academic training. The aim for this platform is to bring confidence, real life experience and identify soft skills for these women, specifically for roles in the STEM industry.

We hope to offer opportunity to young girls who may not otherwise consider this field. The end goal for the platform is to place these girls into apprenticeships, internships or entry level jobs.

The platform will allow users to:

Learn - about their soft skills through interactive quizzes

Seek – ‘new world’ job roles that may match their personality type and soft skills

Match - with community members, brands and industry ‘light touch’ mentors to educate and understand the scope and availability of internships and entry-based opportunities in NSW

The app will also feature clear goal setting pathways that incorporate behaviour change elements to ensure girls have a clear understanding of how to launch their STEM career. This is of particular importance to the team at The Project Factory as they are a strongly female driven tech and development company.

“The disparity of confidence and general understanding displayed between young men and women towards STEM based roles should not exist. It is up to all local businesses within these fields to champion change and to create greater opportunities to encourage a more balanced playing field. I am thrilled that our team are taking on challenges such as this whole heartedly.” Kat Robinson, MD APAC - The Project Factory/Way To Blue.

The Project Factory are seeking (non-investment) brand partners to support the next phase of the project including contributions of staff time, education content or entry level roles, internships, or work experience. This is an opportunity to not only do social good, but to have direct access to innovative young women. The incubation period will culminate with a Showcase Event presenting to the NSW Government and relevant stakeholders on 30 August, where the MVP will be showcased.