The cover image for this post is by Kenny Eliason
Introduction
In a rapidly evolving technological world, preparing young minds for future careers is more crucial than ever. The annual “Step Into Your Future” week, held at Greenhead College, Huddersfield, offers first-year students an invaluable opportunity to engage with professionals from various industries, universities, and apprenticeship providers. Over the past two years, RJJ Software has been a proud partner of this initiative, making significant contributions through our Chief Technology Officer, Jamie Taylor.
Step Into Your Future Week
The college describes their programme as follows:
Our Step Into Your Future programme is designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage with a wide range of professionals representing industries, universities and apprenticeship providers, helping to enhance your employability skills and confirm training and career aspirations.
For a week in June, all first-year students opt to carry out their own work placements or choose to explore one of 30 different career areas in more detail by undertaking a programme organised by College. This encompasses a mix of interactive workshops, talks and visits all designed to give valuable first-hand information about specific careers, degrees, apprenticeships and the required employability skills. A Careers Fair is also held in College during this week, enabling students to target specific Universities, apprenticeship providers or employers of particular interest, gaining further valuable information.
In addition to the intensive experience of “Step Into Your Future,” students are encouraged throughout the year to engage in volunteering or additional work placements as enrichment activities.
RJJ Software’s Role and Jamie’s Contributions
We’ve been actively involved with Greenhead College over the last two years (2024 and 2025), particularly within their Computer Science department. Jamie has played a pivotal role in this collaboration by delivering captivating talks on artificial intelligence (AI) and fostering dynamic discussions.
Jamie’s talks focused on the relevance of AI in modern software engineering, aiming to spark curiosity and encourage critical thinking among students. His presentations included:
These sessions were designed to be interactive, with Jamie encouraging students to ask questions about generative AI’s training processes, ethical considerations, and security implications in the workplace. His engaging approach led many students to approach Jamie with further discussions on these critical topics.
Community Engagement and Mentorship
Jamie’s dedication to community involvement is deeply rooted in his philosophy of giving back—a value instilled by mentors and colleagues throughout his career. First recognised by Microsoft with an MVP award for Developer Technologies in 2022 (which we wrote about here), Jamie believes that sharing knowledge is key to fostering excitement about software engineering.
His passion for education extends beyond formal talks; he inspires future engineers through various platforms, including podcasts like The Modern .NET Show, informal conversations, and mentorship opportunities. This commitment was evident when he first collaborated with Stephen Wood at Notre Dame Sixth Form College in July 2022. Their partnership involved guiding T-Level students in real-world .NET MAUI-based projects.
When Stephen transitioned to Greenhead College, he invited Jamie to expand his impact by participating in the “Step Into Your Future” week. Jamie recalls:
I was honoured and delighted to accept
Jamie’s involvement with Greenhead is not just about delivering talks; it’s about building a bridge between education and real-world applications, helping students gain practical insights and skills that will serve them well in their careers.
Conclusion
RJJ Software’s collaboration with Greenhead College during their “Step Into Your Future” week exemplifies our commitment to nurturing young talent in the tech industry. Through Jamie Taylor’s engaging sessions on AI and broader educational initiatives, RJJ Software plays a crucial role in shaping the future of software engineering. By investing time and expertise into these students’ learning journeys, we are helping pave the way for their success in an ever-evolving technological landscape.
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