Newcastle’s digital bank Atom Bank is deploying a suite of educational grants and internships aimed at levelling the playing field for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, with initiatives designed to funnel talent into top universities and the technology sector.
The cornerstone of this effort is the Atom Futures Fund, operated in partnership with the County Durham charity Point North. It offers a £250 incentive to eligible Year 13 students from low-income households, those in care, or with caring responsibilities who apply to a Russell Group university, followed by a further £1,000 grant if they secure and accept an offer. To date, the bank says it has supported 13 candidates with the initial payment and eight have received the additional sum, distributing over £13,000 in total. Atom Bank contributed £10,000 to the fund in 2024, and Point North has increased its match funding for 2025 due to strong applicant quality. Applications for the upcoming cycle are set to open in April, with a closing date expected around 29 April for the first phase. From this year, Atom intends to broaden the scheme’s remit, aiming to provide up to 20 of both the initial and follow-on grants.
Addressing the Gender Gap in Tech
Alongside the Futures Fund, Atom bank funds two annual scholarships under the AMI Durham University Women in Tech programme. Each female scholar from a low-income background receives £4,000 per year for the three-year duration of a Computer Science or related joint-honours degree at Durham University. This initiative targets the stark underrepresentation of women in the UK’s tech sector, where they make up only 26% of the workforce and a mere 5% of leadership roles, according to industry data. The bank also provides mentoring, internship opportunities, and encourages recipients to promote tech careers in the North East. One scholar, Asli Ozgur, stated: “The AMI scholarship has enabled me to concentrate fully on my academic goals and make the most of my university experience. Atom bank’s support has made a meaningful difference to my journey.”
For younger students, Atom has expanded its involvement with the EY Foundation’s Smart Futures programme, increasing fully funded places from six to eight for Year 12 pupils from low-income backgrounds. The 12-month scheme provides paid work experience during holidays, employability skills training, and up to 10 months of business mentoring, with no academic entry criteria for most tracks. Atom covers all costs, including a stipend for participants.
Investing in Specialist Education
A fourth pillar of Atom’s social investment strategy is its commitment to the state-funded Durham Maths School, a specialist institution for 16-19 year olds developed by Durham University and Durham Sixth Form Centre to boost STEM capabilities. Edward Twiddy, Atom’s Director of Environment, Society, and Government (ESG), noted that the Department for Education has confirmed establishing the school remains a government priority, following a £3 billion investment in such institutions. However, reports indicate that the Durham Maths School is under review by the DfE as part of a broader assessment of free schools.
Leading these initiatives is Edward Twiddy, a co-founder of Atom Bank and its ESG director. With a background in education and sustainability—holding a PhD from Durham University and serving as a Professor in Practice there—Twiddy oversees the bank’s engagement with regional schools and universities. “Our investment in the Atom Futures Fund and our other programmes is a direct commitment to supporting the next generation of innovators and leaders,” he said. “We are proud to back early career talent across the North East, ensuring a strong future pipeline of skills.”
Beyond education, Atom Bank is pursuing an ambitious climate-positive strategy, aiming to achieve that status by 2035. The bank reports a 22% reduction in operational emissions over the past year and is investing in natural capital projects, such as purchasing woodland in Northumberland to sequester carbon. It is also exploring biodiversity net gain initiatives and advocates for collaboration across financial services, government, and energy sectors to accelerate environmental policy reforms.
Twiddy emphasised the broader imperative: “With a new industrial revolution coming fast to all sectors of the economy, we need as many companies as possible to be supporting the next generation to make full use of their talents. Only then will firms like ours and the North East continue to be a focus for the investment and productivity gains that we need to support all our futures.”
