Aspire 2Be has officially launched Connect, a new social value programme designed to empower communities, strengthen partnerships and deliver meaningful, long-term impact across Wales.
The programme was unveiled at an exclusive, invitation-only launch event held at The Vale Resort on Wednesday 14th January, bringing together business leaders, partners and stakeholders for a morning of insight, inspiration and connection.
With more than 10 years’ experience delivering digital learning programmes across both education and business, Aspire 2Be is uniquely placed to deliver the Connect programme. Connect has been developed to support organisations in embedding social value into their work, creating opportunities for collaboration with local schools. Through the programme, Aspire 2Be aims to build stronger relationships between education, business and communities, helping to drive positive outcomes for people across Wales.
The launch event offered attendees a first look at the vision behind Connect, giving them a chance to hear more about the impact the programme is designed to deliver and how it will evolve. Guests were also given opportunities to network with like-minded organisations and explore how they can get involved.
Attendees heard from a range of speakers throughout the morning, including Matt Smith, Managing Director at Aspire 2Be, who shared an overview of Aspire 2Be’s mission, values and ongoing commitment to supporting organisations, educators and communities. Ryan Evans, Senior Digital Learning Specialist at Aspire 2Be, officially unveiled Connect, delivering an overview of the programme and its four core Connect Missions. Ryan explained how the programme works from initial engagement through to project completion, and outlined the many ways organisations can participate.
Adam Raymond, Headteacher and Estyn Inspector at Pencoed Primary School, provided valuable insight from an education perspective about the value of partnerships and project-based learning. Drawing on real experiences from a school setting, Adam demonstrated how external collaborations can enrich teaching and learning, support pupil development and strengthen engagement, while aligning with the ambitions of the Curriculum for Wales.
The event also featured a contribution from Donna Griffiths, Head of Social Value at Bouygues UK, who spoke about the growing importance of social value initiatives and the role that community partnerships play in delivering sustainable impact.
The launch gave guests a first look at the four Connect Missions, which form the core of the programme:
Create
Inspire creativity and communication through digital media. Learners plan, produce and present multimedia projects - building storytelling, collaboration and digital fluency.
Construct
Bring the built environment to life with Minecraft: Education Edition. Learners design and build sustainable structures, applying STEM, teamwork and problem-solving in a virtual world.
Sustain
Explore green energy, Net Zero and sustainability. Through scenario-based Minecraft challenges, learners design and manage sustainable solutions while developing systems and environmental awareness.
Launch
Blend digital skills with entrepreneurship. Learners develop and pitch a business concept, gaining confidence, creativity and employability skills relevant to the world of work.
Attendees were given the opportunity to explore how each Mission could align with their own organisation’s goals, values and social value commitments. This allowed them to experience the programme’s approach first-hand, with strong engagement throughout the session from participants.
As Digital Learning Experts, Aspire 2Be brings together deep understanding of education, industry and digital innovation to deliver programmes that create real impact. Connect reflects this expertise, providing a trusted framework for organisations to engage with schools and communities.
Get in touch today to find out how Connect can support your organisation’s social value commitments and create meaningful impact across Wales!
