# Government plan aims for 200,000 entry-level tech jobs in 10 years

> The Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan says beginners find it harder to get a first tech job. From April 2027, BCS will recognise digital T Level and apprenticeship learners for free.

The Yoink Report (CodeYoink) | UK | Careers | News of 21 October 2026 | Published 5 November 2026

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published a plan on 21 October 2026 to open more first tech jobs to young people.

[The Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/digital-and-technologies-jobs-plan/digital-and-technologies-jobs-plan) says around 800,000 digital and technology roles will need filling over the next decade. The government and industry aim for around 200,000 entry-level jobs over that time, including apprenticeships. Government and employers commit to about 20,000 a year through a single "Skills Deal".

The plan says many young people who took a computing course or degree find it hard to get in. In cyber security, the share of job adverts open to people with less than a year of experience fell from 25% in 2022 to 16% in 2025. In 2025, 64% of those adverts asked for two to six years.

For learners, the plan lists one change with a date. From April 2027, anyone who completes a digital T Level, V Level or apprenticeship can be recognised by BCS against a professional standard at no cost. BCS confirmed this in [an article on its site](https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/governments-digital-and-technologies-jobs-plan-puts-bcs-at-the-heart-of-britains-skills-future/). The plan notes that T Levels, V Levels and several other named routes are for England only.

A related [TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/techfirst-ai-apprenticeship-pathway) is being piloted in North West England. It trains young people in AI and digital skills, then helps them apply for Level 3 digital apprenticeships. The plan calls the 200,000 figure an ambition shared by government and industry, not a forecast. It says progress will be reported each year.

## Sources

- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (GOV.UK): [Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/digital-and-technologies-jobs-plan/digital-and-technologies-jobs-plan)
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (GOV.UK): [TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/techfirst-ai-apprenticeship-pathway)
- BCS: [Government's Digital and Technologies Jobs Plan Puts BCS at the Heart of Britain's Skills Future](https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/governments-digital-and-technologies-jobs-plan-puts-bcs-at-the-heart-of-britains-skills-future/)

Picture: Shadowssettle, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Junior_Common_Room_during_IC_Hack_20,_Imperial_College_London.png

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